INEOS blocks Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba Man Utd deals, but now a surprise Premier League star is a ‘serious target’
Manchester United bosses have reportedly decided to stop chasing Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. Instead, they’re now focusing on signing a surprising Premier League star.
This summer, United have already signed former Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, ex-Aston Villa player Youri Tielemans, and backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow. A move for Ederson from Atalanta looked likely but didn’t happen in the end.
With Casemiro leaving last season and Manuel Ugarte expected to miss most of this one due to a knee injury, manager Michael Carrick wants to strengthen the midfield. United will be busy this season, competing in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Before, United were interested in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but Spurs signed both instead. They also liked Baleba and Scott, but a new report says United are passing on them. Instead, they want a different Premier League midfielder who impressed at the recent World Cup.
TeamTalk’s Graeme Bailey explains that United’s recruitment team, led by Jason Wilcox, is exploring options for the season ahead. Bailey shared, “They want someone who can really help them defensively. Ideally, they’d sign Carlos Baleba; they really like his style. Even though he didn’t have the best season, they think he’d be great for Manchester United.”
However, United thinks Baleba’s worth about £50 million, which is much less than Brighton’s £75 million asking price. Bailey also mentioned that signing a left-back, a midfielder, and possibly a forward is still a priority. One player on their list is French international Manu Koné from AS Roma.
“His price is around £50 million or a bit less, but some at Old Trafford aren’t sure it’s the right price,” Bailey said. Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga is also on their radar, while Fulham and Norway midfielder Sander Berge has become a serious target.
“Experience matters to them, and that’s why Berge keeps coming up,” Bailey said. “He’s proven in the Premier League, likely costs under £40 million, and showed at the World Cup that he can step up when playing with top players. United really believe he could do a great job.”
Berge, 28, has played in the Premier League for Sheffield United, Burnley, and Fulham. He’s been capped 71 times by Norway and helped them reach the World Cup quarter-finals. He’s contracted with Fulham until 2029 and could be a cheaper option than the others.
It’s still unclear if Fulham would let him go.