Manchester United are trying to do two things at once this summer, and honestly, that probably sums up where they’re at better than any strategy document could. One target is an 18-year-old from Paris Saint-Germain who has barely played 1,200 senior minutes. The other is a 22-year-old Premier League midfielder Brighton is willing to sell for around £70 million, down from an asking price that once made United walk away entirely. You don’t have to squint to see the tension in that shopping list.
The teenager is Ibrahim Mbaye, and he’s got a pretty compelling case. He made 31 appearances across all competitions for PSG last season, which sounds like a lot until you realize that adds up to just over 1,200 minutes. He was used in bursts, trusted in spots, but he’s not a starter yet. That’s not a knock on him. Breaking into a front line that still includes some serious names is hard for anybody. Mbaye can play either wing or an advanced central role, which is the sort of flexibility clubs pay extra for. He also became the youngest African scorer in World Cup history when he put one in against France for Senegal. That moment got people’s attention, even if smart clubs know better than to buy a player based on one tournament highlight.
PSG is reportedly asking around €35 million, about £30 million, while interested clubs are trying to get closer to €25 million, roughly £21 million. For United, that gap matters. They’ve spent too much in recent years overpaying for guys who didn’t quite fit. If Mbaye is viewed as a development project with first-team upside, £21 million is fine. Push much past that and the risk gets real.
Then there’s Carlos Baleba. Different profile entirely. He’s 22, he knows the Premier League, and he fills a need United clearly has in midfield for more athleticism and authority. The latest rumor is that he’s open to moving to Old Trafford, but United hasn’t made a concrete offer yet. That tracks. Admiring a player is free. Making a bid costs real money and commitment.
United walked away when Brighton wanted at least £100 million. That was the right call. Now the talk is around £70 million, which is still a lot but at least lives in the same neighborhood as reality. The real question isn’t whether United can afford it. It’s whether they’re convinced Baleba is the guy at that price, not just a cheaper version of somebody they couldn’t land before. He covers ground, he’s physical, he can drive the ball forward. But consistency has been an issue, and if there was a dip in his 2025/26 season, United has to figure out whether that was circumstance or something deeper.
Tottenham is also in on Mbaye, which complicates things. They’ve already beaten United to one young player this summer, and there’s no appetite at Old Trafford for finishing second in those races again. If United genuinely believes Mbaye is one of the best emerging forwards available, they need to move with some urgency. If they’re just monitoring him while looking at five other guys, they risk getting played.
For fans, this all comes down to coherence. United needs to stop being vaguely interested in everybody and start being decisive about somebody. Mbaye makes sense as a long-term bet if the price is right. Baleba makes sense as a short-term fix if the coaching staff truly believes he elevates the team. Both can be good ideas. What can’t keep happening is the drift, the hesitation, the paying extra because they moved too slowly. Competent clubs don’t operate that way. And Manchester United needs to start acting like one again.
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