Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has urged the club to complete a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, believing the Cameroon international would provide a major boost in the centre of the pitch.
Rooney hopes the move can be agreed before the summer transfer window closes, with United having made a disappointing start to their Premier League campaign.
Michael Carrick’s side began the season with a 2-0 defeat by newly promoted Hull City. Their performance was widely criticised, with the team’s display leaving both analysts and Manchester United supporters frustrated.
Baleba is the player Rooney has identified as the potential solution. The former United striker strongly defended the 22-year-old after suggestions that the midfielder had declined or “disappeared” following the collapse of a proposed move to Old Trafford last season.
Manchester United are expected to sign Baleba from Brighton in a deal that could be worth up to £70m. If completed, he would become the club’s third midfield addition of the summer, following Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.
Tielemans and Santos made their United debuts on Saturday, starting in the defeat by Hull City.
“I like him a lot and I think he is a very good signing,” Rooney said on the Stick to United with Wayne Rooney podcast. “We need another midfielder who has a bit of physicality, even if he is not tall.”
“He covers the ground really well, he is aggressive, he wins the ball back and those are qualities we need. He is a very good player and he would improve the team a lot,” added Rooney, according to Sky Sports.
The former England captain also welcomed the prospect of Baleba competing for a place alongside Tielemans, Santos and Kobbie Mainoo.
“It would be interesting, but that is how it should be; competition for places. If you do not play well, you do not play,” Rooney said.
United showed interest in signing Baleba last season, but Brighton were reportedly demanding £100m for the midfielder. That figure is understood to have been reduced after a less productive campaign for the Cameroon player.
Baleba started only 23 Premier League matches and did not score a goal, while there was growing discussion about whether his influence at Brighton had weakened.
Rooney rejected that assessment and insisted the failure to move to Manchester United should not be interpreted as evidence that Baleba had lost his ability.
“I do not think he disappeared. The chance to play for Manchester United does not come around very often, and you do not know what impact not getting that opportunity might have. There is no doubt about his ability and I see him as a top-class player,” he said.
Manchester United have made midfield reconstruction a priority during the summer window. Casemiro has left the club, while Manuel Ugarte has suffered a serious knee injury, increasing the need for further options in the position.
Tielemans and Santos arrived last month from Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively in deals totalling £85m. The possible addition of Baleba would give Carrick another physically strong option and create further competition with Tielemans, Santos and Mainoo for midfield places.
