Manchester United’s midfield shopping list just got shorter. And not because they found their guy.
According to multiple reports, the club has cooled its interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. The reason is simple: both clubs are asking for money United isn’t willing to spend.
Brighton wants close to £100 million for Baleba, a 21-year-old who had an inconsistent season. United’s internal valuation is around half that, roughly £50 million. That’s a gap you can’t just talk through over a few phone calls.
Scott is a similar story. Bournemouth has him priced in a range that United considers unrealistic, even though the kid just turned down a new contract. That move was supposed to make him cheaper, apparently it didn’t work out that way.
So what’s the alternative?
United already added Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos this window, giving Michael Carrick more control and technical quality in the middle. The next priority is a more defensive presence, someone who can sit in front of the back line and handle pressure without panicking.
Enter Sander Berge. The Fulham midfielder is valued below £40 million, which actually fits what United wants to spend. He’s 27, has Premier League experience, and brings the kind of size and defensive instincts Carrick’s system needs. Not the flashiest name, but the board seems to care more about the math than the buzz right now.
Patience or paralysis?
The Guardian also reported that United wants a third midfielder but views moves for Roma’s Manu Koné and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga as unlikely at current prices in the £60-80 million range. So Berge might be the real target, not just a fallback option.
Walking away from Baleba and Scott is the right call if the numbers are real. Both guys could help United. Neither should eat up the rest of the budget when the squad still needs help at left-back and up front. Berge isn’t going to get anyone to buy a jersey, but he might actually help the team win games. That’s kind of the point.
The club will keep watching those preferred targets in case prices drop later in the window. For now, they’re not getting bullied into overpaying again. Smart or just cheap? We’ll find out when the window closes.
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