Finance expert Dan Plumley feels that Manchester United will be successful in signing Carlos Baleba
For years, Manchester United supporters have watched the same pattern unfold in midfield, where gaps appear regularly and control slips away at crucial stages of games. Rúben Amorim has used a stubborn structure, with a two-man pivot exposing Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes when opponents press with energy and numbers. Fernandes, with his creativity and drive, simply does not offer the defensive cover needed in a deeper role, and this imbalance hurts the side in transitions.
The absence of press-resistant midfielders who can dictate the tempo has left the defence vulnerable. Reports revealed that Manchester United stars were flummoxed by Rúben Amorim’s treatment of Tyrell Malacia, which only fuels wider debate about decisions shaping the balance of the squad. Fans believe the squad lacks depth and the right players to control matches, and without urgent reinforcement, United will face the same issues in the new year.
The January window becomes decisive
Manchester United might finally act, and many view the January transfer window as the chance to correct mistakes from the summer. Football finance expert Dan Plumley told Football Insider that United will focus on central midfield. He stressed that after strengthening in other positions, the club cannot ignore this weakness again. He added that a move for Carlos Baleba, a player tracked for some time, will likely happen either in January or the following summer, depending on circumstances.
Plumley’s remarks suggest that investment in midfield looks inevitable, and that United’s league position could dictate the urgency and size of the outlay. Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has urged United to make their move for Adam Wharton. It is another reminder that respected voices outside the club echo the same call, demanding decisiveness in an area that continues to undermine progress.
“I think that’s the position they will focus on.
“Again, if you look at where the incomings have been, they have signed players pretty much all across the pitch.
“Central midfield was one that they missed out on, so the likelihood is, if they are going to be active in January, then that is where they’re going to look.
“With Baleba, with his age, if they want him, that deal’s gonna get done at some point, whether it’s in January or whether it’s next summer.
“I think if they are going to spend big in January, midfield’s probably going to be where they go, and it’ll be interesting to see where they are in the setup of the league position at that time as well.”
Opinion: Why a new midfielder is essential
Fans know exactly what this side needs, and it stretches beyond one signing or one market opportunity. The current reliance on Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as a two-man midfield leaves the defence wide open, while the team lacks rhythm in dictating possession through the centre of the pitch. Opponents keep overloading that area, and transitions turn chaotic because United fail to establish control.
A new addition in January is essential, and the team clearly needs a specific profile. United must sign someone press-resistant, composed enough to carry the ball under pressure, and intelligent in movement to cover defensive spaces. That type of player can shield the back four, initiate attacks smoothly, and give Amorim the tactical flexibility he currently refuses to adopt.
The budget and timing of the winter window always make matters difficult, which is why suggestions of Carlos Baleba appear ambitious, given his value. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, however, looks a realistic option with Premier League experience, and he could be available even if the asking price touches £70 million. Forest may resist, yet his mix of dynamism and control matches exactly what United lack.
He could stabilise defensive transitions and give Bruno Fernandes freedom to influence play higher up the pitch. Supporters crave that balance, because without it, structural flaws waste the promise of attacking talent. January now stands as a decisive moment, and failure to address this will condemn United to repeating the same frustrations that have haunted recent seasons.