Manchester United fans are growing increasingly anxious as the season progresses, with the Reds yet to record a win in the 2025/26 campaign.
Following the humiliating Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town, supporters are calling for urgent reinforcements to salvage a season that has begun in familiar chaos.
Despite an active summer window, Manchester United’s midfield remains a glaring concern, with Ruben Amorim’s system of a two-man engine room frequently criticised for leaving the team exposed in central areas.
Pre-season optimism has dwindled, and the memory of the 2022/23 panic buys – Casemiro and Antony, signed for over £150 million following a similarly poor start – looms large, reminding fans that United have historically acted late when the pressure mounts.
The focus this summer has been on Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, a midfielder the club identified as a potential solution to their central problems.
However, it appears that a move for the Cameroon international is unlikely this window, with reports suggesting United have stepped away from pursuing him until next year.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was asked this week, in a media press conference, about the chances of Carlos Baleba leaving amid speculation that some clubs might make a “big offer” in the final days of the transfer window.
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Hurzeler was emphatic in his response: “Yes [I am 100% confident]. If there was a number more than 100, I would say more than 100, I’m confident.”
The quote will surely frustrate United supporters hoping for reinforcements, as Baleba’s style would have fitted perfectly into a midfield three, providing energy, creativity, and balance that the current two-man setup lacks.
Amorim’s reliance on wide centre-backs to fill gaps in midfield has been highlighted repeatedly as a flaw, leaving the team vulnerable against organised opposition.
With just days left in the window, it seems increasingly unlikely that United will solve their central midfield problem this summer, meaning Amorim must find alternative ways to improve performance from within the squad.
While the club’s attacking options – including Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbuemo, and Matheus Cunha – have been strengthened, the engine room remains a weak point, and Baleba’s continued presence at Brighton ensures that United will have to look elsewhere or wait until next year to address this long-standing issue.
