Manchester United’s first move in the 2026 summer transfer window may have just become obvious following the latest set of international break results.
Manchester United’s 2025 summer transfer window was a ruthless one. After Rúben Amorim decided that there were not enough goals in his squad, the club spent £200 million on a whole new front line.
Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo all joined the club. At the same time, the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund, Marcus Rashford, and Antony were either sold or sent on loan in a complete overhaul of the attacking lineup.
With the front line now sorted, it’s expected that 2026 will see United bring in at least two midfielders, and possibly more depending on various contract decisions that need to be made in the next six months.
Casemiro has become an integral part of United over the last few months, but his contract expires at the end of the season. Concurrently, the futures of Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, and Manuel Ugarte remain uncertain.
United and Baleba – the story so far
Last summer, United attempted to move their plans to sign a midfield forward by 12 months when they contacted Brighton to learn the possible price of Carlos Baleba, who United see as the ‘perfect’ player.
However, once it became clear that the South Coast club wanted around £100 million, interest in the deal ceased.
Fast forward to mid-November, and it has been reported that despite the difference in valuations in August, both the player and United remain very keen on the move and will almost certainly revisit the transfer ahead of the 2026 summer window.
“So what Manchester United have done is they’ve been very smart and they’ve done all the legwork,” transfer journalist Ben Jacobs recently explained. “They’ve got the player buy-in. Carlos Baleba likes the idea of moving to Manchester United.
“He’s not the same as, for example, Liam Delap, [who said] come the end of the season, if you don’t get Champions League football, I’m not moving. He’s more in the Cunha and Mbeumo camp. His heart is set on Manchester United in an ideal world.
“Of course, other suitors could come to the table, and there may be competition, but that’s the advantage of Manchester United moving. Even though Brighton didn’t want to do business last summer, they know the player wants to move.
“They like him, and they’re not put off by the fact that at the moment, his form isn’t the same as last season. So that one remains a realistic possibility, but it is a huge outlay.”
Baleba could become United’s first summer signing
Following United’s being undefeated in five Premier League fixtures, some of their key stars, such as Mbeumo, jetted off to their international sides to fight for World Cup qualification. Unfortunately, Baleba and his Cameroon teammate Mbeumo fell to a 1-0 defeat against the DR Congo, which sealed their fate.
Cameroon will miss out on the 2026 World Cup, and following the full-time whistle, footage has emerged of a furious and heartbroken Mbeumo as he left the pitch, with Baleba starting and playing 45 minutes of the tie, too.
The World Cup often showcases some of the hottest prospects in world football, who display their very best on the biggest stage, which sometimes leads to inflated transfer prices. While Cameroon’s misfortune is an agonising blow for Baleba, it could prove a fantastic boost for United.
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While international tournaments offer some of the most peak entertainment, they often slow down the transfer market, as they take place in the first six weeks of the summer window.
With Baleba not set to head to the World Cup, this gives United the perfect opportunity to make him their first summer signing, without international commitments slowing the process.
At the same time, Baleba’s absence from the World Cup weakens Brighton’s bargaining position. Other highly sought-after midfielders, such as Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, will almost certainly be garnering all of the attention at the World Cup, which allows United to slip under the radar and collect Baleba for a possibly much more reasonable fee.