Man Utd in for fourth midfield signing of summer AFTER Baleba as prodigious talent says YES
Manchester United are planning to sign a fourth new midfielder of the summer window, with a move for a third, Carlos Baleba, on the cusp of going through, with the latest deal set to take the Red Devils’ summer spending through the £170m mark.
The big focus for United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, this summer was always going to be midfield recruits. While the club backed away from outlandish deals for the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, they have managed to fork out a combined £85m for both Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.
Now, with a package worth £70m agreed with Brighton to sign Baleba now in place, the Cameroon star is likely to finalise his switch to Old Trafford over the coming days in a further boost for Michael Carrick and in a move that ends a year-long chase by Wilcox, who we explained has personally driven the latest push to sign him.
The capture of Baleba was expected to have completed United’s midfield rebuild and given Carrick the tools to compete both for the Premier League title and ensure the club goes deep in the Champions League upon their return to the competition.
However, reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed United are not done there yet and the Red Devils are also ready to step up their pursuit of Leicester City’s teenage star Louis Page, who, despite only turning 18 last month, has already racked up 22 senior appearances for the Foxes.
Described as one of the best young stars of his generation, it’s understood the teenager has already made it clear he wants to make the move to Old Trafford this summer, and now Jacobs has weighed in on their chances of a deal…
Man Utd keen to sign Louis Page as Leicester icon expects sale
The Red Devils recently had a bid of £10m rejected by the Foxes, though it’s understood an offer of around £15m will see the League One side left with little choice but to sell.
As a result, Jacobs insists a transfer for the 18-year-old is “likely” this summer.
Jacobs told The United Stand: “Is Page still a target for Man Utd? Yes!”
“Man Utd had a bid rejected last week; I expect them to be back, and the player is likely to be on the move.”
Leicester manager Russell Martin is also keeping his cards close to his chest regarding Page’s future after being forced to address the speculation and having left the teenager out of his matchday squad for the Foxes’ League One opener against Notts County.
“Louis [Page] is a really fantastic young player,” he told a press conference. “Obviously, I know the director of football [Jason Wilcox] at Manchester United very well after spending some time with Southampton.
“We haven’t actually spoken on Louis because he probably knows what I’d say to him and tell him to go away! Until something comes in that is really brilliant for the club and player, and everyone is happy, then Louis stays and he’s in the squad.
“I’m really enjoying working with him; he’s a fantastic young player.”
Eccles-born former Foxes star Danny Simpson also expects England Under-20 international Page to move on this summer, though, and admits he is frustrated by the situation at his old club.
“It’s sad to see the situation at Leicester currently,” he said, via One Football.
