Manchester United transfers: Carlos Baleba, Micky van de Ven and what else we’re hearing

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been on Manchester United business for two successive Mondays. His trip to Old Trafford for the Leeds United match will have left him contemplating the more difficult decisions ahead.

A week later, he was back in Manchester, visiting United’s training base at Carrington to hold meetings, with the picture much happier.

In between, Michael Carrick took United to Stamford Bridge and won, putting the club on the brink of Champions League qualification. Reaching Europe’s elite competition will significantly boost United’s bank balance, unlocking a wider range of transfer options for what is another important market.

Carrick’s future is still to be decided, and should he stay his input will be valuable. But United feel they can proceed on targets from a club perspective in any case, with chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell feeding into Ratcliffe.

Top of the list for United is midfield. The expectation is that two new signings in that position will arrive, but the identities depend on the blend. Their skill sets will need to complement each other as well as Kobbie Mainoo, who is finalising a new contract. United hope one midfielder can also be promoted from the academy. Tyler Fletcher and Jim Thwaites have been around the first team recently.

United are weighing up several options. One, which remains highly plausible, is Carlos Baleba. After personal terms were broadly agreed on his behalf with United last summer, he has experienced a difficult campaign at Brighton & Hove Albion, being substituted off in 15 Premier League games, including at half-time on four occasions. He has completed 90 minutes only three times. But one of those was in the 3-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday night, a match in which he played well, in one instance winning the ball in the penalty box from Robert Sanchez to set up Jack Hinshelwood for a big chance.

In any case, United have continued to track Baleba since last summer. United watched Cameroon during AFCON due to Bryan Mbeumo and Baleba. The 22-year-old was viewed as having a positive tournament across five matches, and United rate his overall data as a good fit for the squad in terms of ground coverage, possession-winning and passing.

It seems undeniable United’s pursuit last summer turned his head, and his form at Brighton was in part affected. He also worked through some injury niggles. When appearing for Cameroon, he regained his confidence. Brighton staff have supported him throughout this testing period.

He is, though, in a lower category of midfielders on United’s list, and they would only be willing to pay a suitable price in that regard. Last summer, when his stock was high after two excellent seasons, United would have gone to £75m ($101m). Brighton, however, wanted in excess of £100m. Now, United are believed to feel a fee in the £50m region makes more sense. Whether this would appeal to Brighton, led by owner Tony Bloom, who is a notoriously tough negotiator, remains to be seen.

United are, however, also looking at the centre-back market. There are people at United who believe Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro will develop to be as good a partnership as Arsenal pair Gabriel and William Saliba. But recruitment staff feel an addition is required to cope with the load of Champions League football.

Ideally, they want to add an imposing, left-footed defender. Heaven is on his way to establishing himself in that way, but there are doubts over Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez after injury-hit campaigns. Harry Maguire is 33 and while he is in great form, rotation will be required in a season with European competition.

A name being considered is Micky Van de Ven. The 25-year-old, who spoke to Gary Neville in December about his career, is expected to attract interest whatever division Tottenham Hotspur end up in and his departure is potentially on the cards. His contract runs to 2029 so his value is protected. There is the irony that relegation for Spurs would ease the exit path for some of their best players.

Van de Ven has had a turbulent season defensively, but he has still scored seven goals in 40 appearances, and his assist for Brennan Johnson at Old Trafford in 2024 stands out in the minds of United fans. His speed, ball-carrying, and tackling ability would be a major plus to United’s squad. Liverpool, however, have been interested in the past and could present competition for his signature, so too major clubs in Europe.

United will still need to raise funds through sales and Manuel Ugarte is prominent in thoughts. Ugarte, signed in a £50.5m deal from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, has not established himself at all and is set to be made available for transfer. Ratcliffe is said to be of the view the 25-year-old should be sold, a stance underlined by his view from the Old Trafford directors’ box for the Leeds game, which Ugarte started in place of the injured Mainoo.

Champions League revenue and transfer income will dictate how much money United can spend on enhancing their team.

Elliot Anderson tops United’s list for midfield due to his all-action style, but Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to want as much as £125m for him. Marinakis has shown he is a formidable personality, holding firm on Morgan Gibbs-White last summer despite Spurs attempting to trigger his exit clause. Should Forest go down, though, logic dictates Anderson’s price would also reduce.

Manchester City are thought to be Anderson’s favoured destination in the event of a move, but Rodri’s future is a factor. Some close observers doubt City could agree a fresh contract with Rodri and spend more than £100m on Anderson. City are also considering other options, while Real Madrid have been touted as a possible destination for Rodri too.

Aurelien Tchouameni, a player already at Real, is also being discussed in United meetings. The 26-year-old French international has, though, been one of the few consistent players at the Bernabeu this campaign and it is unclear whether Real would allow him to leave, or even if he wants a new club. It is possible Tchouameni ends up signing a fresh contract at Real instead of moving.

Adam Wharton, 22, is liked by people at United for his progressive passing and decisiveness on the ball. His consistent displays into the business end of the season have impressed, especially as he has played 47 games for club and country. But the price Crystal Palace demand may be too high for United, with chairman Steve Parish a hard person to sit across the table from for directors at buying clubs.

A deal for Sandro Tonali, 25, is expected to be out of reach for United, all aspects considered.

Matheus Fernandes at West Ham United, Alex Scott at Bournemouth and Joao Gomes at Wolves have also been watched.

Although United want to add two midfielders, doing both at a price point in the £70m-plus region — echoing their three big signings last summer — might be beyond their finances this time round, given the further squad strengthening required.

Removing Casemiro’s wages will free up significant funds. Sources say the plus-one clause in his contract can still be triggered if he starts all remaining matches – he would be entitled to his full salary back up at £350,000 per week for qualifying for the Champions League — but he and club executives have an agreement that he will depart. He is relinquishing his right to £18.2m in an annual salary, but leaving as a free agent strengthens his negotiating power with interested clubs. An MLS move is plausible and Inter Miami, in the city he has frequently visited, are in talks.

United currently aim to make four major signings, including an experienced striker and a left-back, with Tyrell Malacia departing and Luke Shaw needing to be rested more given the addition of midweek games. Agents in the industry think United might need more overall, possibly a surplus of three players from the numbers now.

A left winger might also be pursued, although Matheus Cunha is into a groove in that position and Patrick Dorgu is seen as more likely to operate there too.

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