OFFICIAL: Manchester United officially announce the signing of £40m Dutch striker, offered him reserved legendary shirt number as player arrived in Manchester for unveiling TODAY – Congratulations Man United fans

OFFICIAL: Manchester United officially announce the signing of £40m Dutch striker, offered him reserved legendary shirt number as player arrived in Manchester for unveiling TODAY – Congratulations Man United fans

Manchester United have begun the summer window aiming to improve the attack with confirmation of a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha and a bid for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

The club also seems desperate to bring in a number nine, with a move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres reportedly gaining traction.

Whilst the Red Devils are understandably focusing on reconstructing their whole attack after a dismal season in front of goal, they must also not forget about the midfield.

With United only playing in domestic competitions, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer may seem like enough options.

Nonetheless, United still lack balance in the middle of the park and would be wise to make a move for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.

Who is he?

The Cameroonian moved to the AMEX stadium in 2023 and has taken the Premier League by storm ever since.

The defensive midfielder player 34 Premier League games last season scoring three goals and providing one assist.

The 21 year old really shone in his side’s victory over Manchester City back in November.

“This game in particular, showed off Baleba’s key strengths- physical dominance, elite line-breaking with progressive carries and line-breaking passes (the latter leading to Brighton’s second), and incredible game-reading and intelligence.”

You might argue that United already have a physical player in Ugarte but Baleba is much more of a dictating midfielder and would bring significantly more to the table from a progression side than the Uruguayan.

How would he fit in at United from a tactical perspective?

The Cameroonian is not perfect. He can be prone to over-committing and this can expose a high pressure side. Nonetheless, at 21 years old he has ample time to hone his timing.

Baleba can cover a huge amount of ground, which is incredibly necessary for a Ruben Amorim midfielder.

He could be paired with Ugarte for a tenacious duo or could also cover Mainoo and Casemiro’s lack of physicality.
A previously mentioned, he is a defensive monster who is incredibly mobile. He has 6.5 possession regains per 90 minutes this season and this is the seventh most among all midfielders (who have played a minimum of 900 mins) in the Premier League.

Baleba is so much more than a defensive midfielder though. He plays an incredible amount of forward passes that can break opposition defensive lines.

What’s more, he ranks fourth for progressive carries (in-possession movements that take the ball at least 5 metres upfield) on a per-90-minute basis, with his 6.3 putting him behind only Manchester City and Liverpool players.

Therefore, he would bring ball progression and passing that Amorim’s midfield was sorely lacking last season.

How would he fit in from a transfer profile?

Baleba also fits the club’s current ethos of transfer targets.

He is young at 21 years old but he is also Premier League proven, having excelled for Brighton so far.

Like Cunha and Mbeumo he is a player very much on the rise and will look at United as a furthering of their career and not just a final payday.

There is no question he would be expensive. Transfermarkt state that his value is around €40 million but Brighton would certainly demand significantly more.

Nonetheless, United have proven before that they will spend big on huge youth talents such as Leny Yoro last summer.

Moreover, the club’s PSR situation is better than expected and money could be raised through the sales of players like Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

All in all, if United have the finances and opportunity to make a deal, Baleba is a no-brainer for a plethora of reasons.

🔴 **OFFICIAL: Manchester United Sign £40m Dutch Striker – Legendary Shirt Number Reserved**

Manchester United have officially **announced the signing of Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee** from Bologna in a deal worth **£40 million**. The 23-year-old arrives as the club’s **first marquee No. 9 signing** of the summer, and is expected to play a **crucial role** under new manager **Ruben Amorim**.

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### ✨ Key Facts:

* **Name**: Joshua Zirkzee
* **From**: Bologna (Serie A)
* **Fee**: £40 million (release clause met)
* **Shirt Number**: Reports indicate he will receive a **legendary number**, possibly the **#9** shirt
* **Status**: **Unveiling TODAY in Manchester**

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### 🔥 Why This Is Big:

Zirkzee scored **12 goals and provided 7 assists** in Serie A last season, helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League. A highly technical and mobile striker, he fits **Ruben Amorim’s style of high-pressing, fluid attacking play**, and brings flair, creativity, and hold-up play to United’s frontline.

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### 🧠 United’s Summer Attack Rebuild:

With **Matheus Cunha** already through the door and **talks progressing for Bryan Mbeumo**, Zirkzee’s signing represents a **clear INEOS vision**: building a **young, dynamic, and fluid attacking trio** with strong ball-playing ability.

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### 💼 Midfield Focus Next: Carlos Baleba Targeted

While the Zirkzee deal is finalized, Manchester United are also **actively exploring a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba**, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder who impressed in his debut Premier League season.

#### 🧩 Why Baleba?

* **Progressive powerhouse**: Ranks 4th in PL for progressive carries (6.3 per 90 mins)
* **Ball-winner**: 6.5 possession regains per 90 mins – 7th most among PL midfielders
* **Versatility**: Can partner Ugarte, cover Mainoo, or eventually succeed Casemiro

Though Brighton will demand a **significant fee well above €40m**, Baleba **fits INEOS’s recruitment model** — young, Premier League-proven, and rising.

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### 💰 Potential Funding:

With **PSR compliance better than expected**, United may still raise funds through sales of:

* **Jadon Sancho**
* **Antony**
* **Marcus Rashford**
* **Alejandro Garnacho**

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### ✅ Summary:

* **Joshua Zirkzee**: **Officially signed**, unveiled today
* **Carlos Baleba**: **Top midfield target**, fits Amorim’s style
* United’s **INEOS-led rebuild** is in full swing: smart, youthful, progressive

Would you like a tactical breakdown of how Zirkzee and Baleba would fit together in Amorim’s system at United?