{"id":244571,"date":"2026-05-21T19:40:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T19:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/21\/hes-better-than-baleba-man-utd-in-fresh-talks-to-sign-34m-phenomenon\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T19:40:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T19:40:16","slug":"hes-better-than-baleba-man-utd-in-fresh-talks-to-sign-34m-phenomenon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/21\/hes-better-than-baleba-man-utd-in-fresh-talks-to-sign-34m-phenomenon\/","title":{"rendered":"He’s better than Baleba: Man Utd in fresh talks to sign \u00a334m “phenomenon”"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Manchester United<\/a> are on the hunt for midfielders, and who better to lead that pursuit than Michael Carrick<\/a>, the Englishman having won a raft of major honours during a stellar 12-year playing career at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2006, Carrick knows all about trying to fill the shoes of a legendary, veteran midfielder, inheriting Roy Keane’s number 16 shirt following the Irishman’s acrimonious exit a year earlier.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

20 years on, Carrick – expected to be announced as the next permanent United boss – will play his part in overseeing a similar transition this summer, with the departure of a 34-year-old Casemiro<\/a> set to leave a sizeable void to fill ahead of next season.<\/p>\n

The nine-goal Brazilian bowed out on a high in last week’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, with work already underway amid the search to replace him.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Man Utd in fresh talks to sign \u00a334m Casemiro replacement<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Perhaps the most obvious candidate to slot in alongside Kobbie Mainoo would be Carlos Baleba<\/a>, with a deal for the 22-year-old having already been explored in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Carlos\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Personal terms were agreed<\/a> at the time, although Brighton and Hove Albion’s \u00a3100m plus asking price proved prohibitive, putting a pin in any late window deal.<\/p>\n

The Cameroonian is back on the agenda by all accounts, amid talk of INEOS pursuing a pre-World Cup move<\/a>, although further targets are also being lined up too.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Carlos\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Indeed, as per reports in Brazil – via SportWitness<\/a> – United have made ‘fresh enquiries’ regarding a move for Botafogo star, Danilo, having made repeated contact regarding a deal for the 25-year-old.<\/p>\n

Formerly of Nottingham Forest, the midfielder has revived his career back in his homeland and has since been named in Carlos Ancelotti’s World Cup squad, a move that could boost his profile even further.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"danilo-botafogo\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Botafogo are hoping that proves the case, with the report indicating that they are looking for a fee of around \u20ac40m (\u00a334m) this summer.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Danilo compares to Baleba in Man Utd midfield search<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Whether it is related or not, United’s interest in Baleba has been followed by a difficult season at the Amex, with the youngster struggling for consistency under Fabian Hurzeler.<\/p>\n

He was notably substituted at half-time on three occasions in the first seven Premier League games of the campaign, while he’s started just 23 times so far ahead of Brighton’s final day meeting with United.<\/p>\n

A spell out on international duty at AFCON has been a factor in that limited involvement, yet at a time when he could well have gone to a new level, the left-footer appears to have endured something of a regression.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Baleba – 24\/25 vs 25\/26<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

24\/25<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Stat (*per game)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

25\/26<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

34<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Games<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Assists<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

0.6<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Key passes*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

88%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass accuracy*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

86%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ball lost*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.5<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2.3<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Tackles*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1.4<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Interceptions*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5.8<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Recoveries*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

55%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Total duels won*<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

As for Danilo, meanwhile, the Brazilian has recovered from an injury-hit end to his time at Forest to emerge as a star again for his current side, hailed as a “phenomenon”<\/a> by experts in his homeland.<\/p>\n

In just 12 league games in Brazil’s top-flight in 2026 so far, for instance, the \u00a334m-rated sensation has already scored seven goals and registered two assists, proving such a box-crashing threat in his fluid number eight berth.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"danilo-nottingham-forest\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

That attacking intent has also seen the left-footer create five ‘big chances’ and average 1.8 key passes per game, so often seeking that progressive, forward pass from deep.<\/p>\n

At a time when Carrick and INEOS need to fill the shoes of Casemiro, such attacking quality is vital, with the ex-Real Madrid man on nine league goals for the campaign, creating four ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.1 key passes per game.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Elliot-Anderson-Casemiro\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Such an end product has been distinctly lacking from Baleba’s game by comparison, it must be said, with the former Lille starlet yet to register a single goal or assist in the league in 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

He has also only created one ‘big chance’ and averages just 0.2 key passes per game, keeping things neat and tidy rather than looking to probe with an incisive, penetrative pass.<\/p>\n

That was also the case last season too as Baleba again only averaged 0.6 key passes, created only three ‘big chances’ and registered just four goals and assists.<\/p>\n

Danilo is no slouch out of possession too, averaging 5.2 ball recoveries per game, again ahead of Baleba’s average of just 3.3 this season.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Baleba-Morgan-Rogers-Brighton-Aston-Villa\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

With the South American previously making 62 appearances back in English football, registering ten goals and assists, it wouldn’t necessarily be too great a risk as far as INEOS are concerned, with Danilo potentially representing a bargain, Baleba upgrade this summer.<\/p>\n

\n


\n \"Carlos-Baleba-Cunha\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tHe wipes the floor with Baleba: Man Utd hold talks to sign \u00a370m midfielder
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t<\/h5>\n

It’s all about strengthening the midfield for Manchester United this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Manchester United are on the hunt for midfielders, and who better to lead that pursuit than Michael Carrick, the Englishman having won a raft of major honours during a stellar 12-year playing career at Old Trafford. Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2006, Carrick knows all about trying to fill the shoes of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":244572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6808],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-244571","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244571\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}