Manchester United's Transfer Window Challenge: Baleba and Left-Back Concerns
Manchester United are braced for a frantic finish to the transfer window after their Premier League campaign began with a jolt and a jolt of the worst kind.
Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge opened with a 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hull City, a result that cut through the summer optimism around Old Trafford and sharpened the focus on what still needs fixing in this squad.
Semi Ajayi struck on 17 minutes, Nobel Mendy added a second before the break on 38, and United never really recovered. Hull were sharper, stronger, more cohesive. United looked undercooked and short in key areas – a damning combination for a club that has already spent heavily.
Baleba in, but business far from done
INEOS have already moved decisively in midfield. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos both started at the MKM Stadium, the first glimpse of a rebuilt engine room that has been months in the making.
Another piece is almost in place. Carlos Baleba is heading to Carrington for a medical after Brighton & Hove Albion accepted a £70 million offer, a major outlay that underlined how seriously United viewed their midfield issues.
The Baleba agreement was wrapped up just before Arsenal kicked off their own opener against Coventry City, a timely boost for United fans on the eve of the Hull trip. By full-time the mood had changed. The performance in East Yorkshire raised fresh doubts and re-opened old questions about the depth and balance of Carrick’s squad.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano insists the response will come in the market, not just on the training pitch.
On his YouTube channel, Romano said: “It’s been a bad day for Manchester United, losing to Hull City on the opening 2026-27 Premier League game, but still Manchester United is looking for more signings after Carlos Baleba. The left-back position is going to be crucial, the left-back position is going to be definitely one to watch and I would still keep an eye on movements in that area.”
Left-back under the spotlight
Luke Shaw started at left-back against Hull, just as he did in all 38 Premier League games last season. His consistency has been a rare constant in a turbulent period for the club, but the problem is obvious: there is no real alternative.
Carrick has no natural, trusted option to rotate Shaw with, and that lack of competition has pushed left-back to the top of INEOS’ agenda. Interest in Lewis Hall has cooled, with Newcastle United making it clear they have no intention of selling.
That has turned the spotlight towards Barcelona and Alejandro Balde.
Romano confirmed that United have explored a move with the player’s camp. “It’s important to understand how much United can spend on that position because the name I gave you over the week as a possibility is Alejandro Balde,” he said. “Reports from Spain today are saying Balde is 100% leaving Barcelona following a meeting with his agent Jorge Mendes. Jorge Mendes has been looking for a solution for Balde in recent days. Jorge Mendes had a call with Manchester United, Man United were asking for conditions of a deal for Alejandro Balde. Let’s see if they can afford in terms of transfer fee but also salary because Balde is on a big salary at Barcelona.”
Hansi Flick’s stance has opened the door for Balde to depart Camp Nou rather than closing it, and United view the Spaniard as an alternative to Hall. The sticking point is clear: whether INEOS are prepared to match Barcelona’s demands on both fee and wages for a player already on a substantial contract.
Three gaps, one window
The defeat at Hull did more than bruise pride. It exposed how incomplete this squad still is.
Midfield may soon be stacked with options once Baleba signs, but the rest of the pitch tells a different story. Left-back cannot remain a one-man role. United know they are one Shaw injury away from a major structural problem on that flank.
Up front, the picture is no less concerning. Benjamin Sesko came off the bench at the MKM Stadium, still short of full sharpness after a lengthy spell out. Matheus Cunha led the line from the start but struggled to impose himself, rarely able to pin Hull’s defence or offer a reliable outlet.
For a club of United’s stature, entering a long, gruelling season without another proven centre-forward looks like a gamble. That remains true regardless of what happens with Joshua Zirkzee.
At centre-back, the warning signs flash just as brightly. Matthijs de Ligt is close to returning from injury, and Lisandro Martinez remains a cornerstone of Carrick’s plans, but both have endured repeated fitness issues during their time at Old Trafford. Building a title challenge on the hope that two injury-hit defenders stay fit for nine months is asking for trouble.
The message from Hull was brutal but clear. INEOS have made strides in reshaping Manchester United, especially in midfield, yet this squad still needs a left-back, another forward and a centre-back if it is to withstand the demands of a Premier League season.
The window is still open. The question now is whether United move with the same urgency in the market that Hull showed on the pitch.
