Baleba set for Manchester United debut against Tottenham

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 09:55 · Archive

Manchester United's £70m signing Carlos Baleba is expected to make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

Carlos Baleba is expected to make his Manchester United debut against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford this weekend. The 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder signed a five-year contract with United in August after arriving from Brighton, though the exact fee is reported differently by outlets: BBC Sport states £70m, whilst the Guardian reports $88.7m (£65m) plus $6.8m (£5m) in add-ons.

Baleba was sidelined by an ankle injury during United's difficult start to the season, missing matches against Everton, Manchester City and Fulham as the club struggled to just one win and five points from their opening five games, leaving them 12th in the Premier League. He was brought in to fill the holding midfield role that has proven difficult to fill following Casemiro's exit in May, and represents the final component of United's £150m midfield overhaul completed alongside the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

United have deployed Kobbie Mainoo and Tielemans as a double pivot in their last four Premier League matches with mixed results, according to the Guardian. One United insider's assessment of Baleba's early impressions is that he is 'very quick'. The pressure is significant for both Baleba and his new club, with Brighton having knocked United out of the EFL Cup from 2-0 down at Old Trafford before the midfielder's departure.

How it is being reported

• Will Carlos Baleba fix Manchester United? Three big questions ahead of potential debutAs the Premier League returns, we dive into the signing who could boost United’s midfield – or confuse things further Carlos Baleba cost Manchester United $88.7m (£65m) plus $6.8m (£5m) in add-ons when they signed him from Brighton in August. He may be worth even more now despite the fact that the Cameroonian has yet to debut for his new club. Many United fans are counting on Baleba to be a one-man solution to their early-season problems. No pressure. An ankle injury kept Baleba on the sidelines as Michael Carrick’s side struggled against Everton, Manchester City and Fulham. The 22-year-old…Guardian Sport · 9 Oct, 09:00
• Is £70m Baleba ready for his Man Utd exam?Manchester United's £70m summer signing Carlos Baleba is expected to make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur at Old TraffordBBC Sport · 9 Oct, 08:57

In this story: Carlos Baleba · Manchester United · Tottenham Hotspur · Brighton · Cameroon · Old Trafford

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