Manchester United’s summer window is entering its final and most critical phase, with Michael Carrick still searching for reinforcements before Tuesday night’s deadline.
The Red Devils were dealt an early reality check as they suffered an opening day defeat to newly-promoted Hull City, underlining the need for further squad depth.
Three new midfielders have already arrived at Old Trafford this summer, but Carrick’s squad clearly still carries vulnerabilities that require addressing before the window slams shut.
Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans made their United debuts last weekend, though supporters may have to wait a little longer before seeing the club’s latest addition step onto the pitch.
The departure of Casemiro at the end of June created a significant void in midfield, with United desperately needing a dominant, ball-winning presence at the base of their engine room.
That need has now been answered with the arrival of Carlos Baleba from Brighton and Hove Albion, with United finally landing a player they identified as a key target last summer after paying £70m including add-ons.
Baleba’s statistics from last season paint a compelling picture of his quality, with the Cameroonian making 1.6 interceptions per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 10% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues.
His tally of 5.7 ball recoveries and 11.3 defensive contributions per 90 further underline his credentials, while an 86% pass completion rate and 3.8 line-breaking passes per 90 highlight his technical output in possession.
With Baleba now secured, attention has quickly turned to the left-back position, where Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde had been strongly linked before publicly expressing his desire to remain at his boyhood club.
That development has redirected United’s focus towards Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall, with journalist Ben Jacobs providing an encouraging update on the situation.
Jacobs stated: “The signs from the [Lewis] Hall camp are he sees a very strong fit at Manchester United.”
He added: “This is where Manchester United have got confidence, as they did with Carlos Baleba 12 months ago, that if they can’t move now, if they do choose to move in a year’s time, and even if Hall signs a new deal first, the player has that buy in.”
A fee of £60m has been consistently mooted as the price to secure Hall’s signature, which United believe would represent strong value for a player with a proven Premier League pedigree.
Throughout the 2025/26 season, Hall completed an impressive 1.5 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, a figure that bettered 95% of players in the division and demonstrated his threat when carrying the ball forward.
His 29% cross completion rate shows he also delivers a meaningful end product when advancing into dangerous wide areas, adding a creative dimension to his attacking contributions.
Defensively, Hall has proven himself equally effective, registering 5.5 ball recoveries and 2.2 tackles per 90 during 2025/26, with his ball recovery figure ranking in the top 4% of full-backs in the Premier League.
United may have to wait 12 months to complete the deal, mirroring the patience they showed before eventually securing Baleba, but the club appear convinced it is a worthwhile approach.
At £60m, Hall would represent another significant outlay, but the all-round profile he offers suggests he could grow into a cornerstone of Carrick’s long-term plans at Old Trafford.
Together, Hall and Baleba could form a foundation for United’s rebuild, contributing not just to the club’s future but potentially making an immediate impact as the 2026/27 season gets underway.