Man Utd Transfer News: Why Red Devils Should Prioritise Manu Kone Over Carlos Baleba

Manchester United’s midfield rebuild is well underway. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have arrived from Chelsea and Aston Villa, respectively. They are still not done, however. United need more bodies in the middle of the park.

As things stand, they are heading into the new campaign with just three deep central midfield options. Admittedly, Mason Mount can play the role, but Michael Carrick’s side require strength in depth ahead of their Champions League return.

While they are in a better position now than they were a few weeks ago, United can ill-afford to rest on their laurels as they look to build upon a successful 2025/26 campaign. Yes, the captures of Santos and Tielemans are certainly steps in the right direction. One more addition, and the midfield will be complete.

And according to reports, it boils down to two names - Carlos Baleba and Manu Kone.

Baleba back on the radar

United were heavily linked with a move for Brighton star Baleba last summer yet the club were put off by the Seagulls’ nine-figure demands for the Cameroon international. It’s fair to say that Baleba’s stock since then has plummeted. The 22-year-old did make 31 league appearances, a figure that would have been higher had it not been for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Even so, Baleba struggled to match expectations on the south coast. He managed just 23 league starts under Fabian Hurzeler last season. “I think everyone gets affected,” Hurzeler of Baleba and speculation surrounding a move after the midfielder was dropped for a south coast clash with Bournemouth last September.

That being said, United are again interested in Baleba. The former Lille man would perhaps benefit from a chance of scenery to rediscover his best form. He’d be a Premier League experienced option, that’s for sure.

The issue is that United could, feasibly, sign Kone for cheaper. It’s no secret that there is a Premier League premium on players this summer. Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali both made Premier League switches for nine-figure sums this summer, moving to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively. There is value to be found when shopping around the European market.

Kone the alternative

Kone was one of France’s star players on their route to an eventual fourth-place finish at the World Cup. While Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot were Didier Deschamps’ first choice pairing in the favoured 4-2-3-1 setup, Kone impressed in the absence of the former.

The 25-year-old’s commendable summer showings were a continuation of his fine performances in a Roma shirt last season. The Italian side are understandably keen to retain Kone’s services. That’ll prove easier said than done.

The issue is who United opt to pursue.

Ultimately it boils down to whether they want to sign more of a ball winner or a midfielder to advance the play. Baleba and Kone offer different styles of play, though the former averaged more interceptions per 90 (1.6) than the latter (0.7) in their respective leagues last season.

The two midfielders ranked similarly for tackles per 90 - Baleba, with two, just edges Kone (1.8) - and tackle success rate (67.3% and 63.6%, respectively). In terms of ball recoveries, Baleba again comes out on top of the two midfielders.

That’s not to say Kone is poor off the ball. Rather, his best work comes when he is in possession. He’s a player who looks to shift possession forward having trumped Baleba for final third passes completed, chances created and forward passes per 90.

Conclusion

On the whole, Kone is better on the ball than Baleba. While he perhaps offers less out of possession, Kone is still able to carry out the nitty gritty defensive duties. It’s that he is a more rounded midfielder capable of advancing the play, whereas Baleba lets himself down here.

Again, though, it does depend on the sort of midfielder United are looking to sign. If they are after a pure ball-winner, the Baleba is the better option. However, Manuel Ugarte offers the same tenacity yet lacks the technical ability to succeed at Old Trafford. The Uruguayan’s serious knee injury at the World Cup also ended his season.

Baleba is a better player than Ugarte, yet Kone is a far more effective midfielder as a whole. Now that Casemiro has departed, United need another line-breaker from the middle of the park. Santos and Tielemans can play this role, while the Brazilian is a handy ball winner.

With Kone a more cost-effective option, he’s arguably the stronger of the two midfield targets. He was vital for a France side that made the World Cup semi-finals. If he could transfer that form from the international stage to Old Trafford, then he’d be a handy pick up for Carrick’s side.