Manchester United’s summer transfer campaign has taken a dramatic turn, with reports indicating that INEOS have fast-tracked a stunning £130 million double signing. The targets? Carlos Baleba and Gianluigi Donnarumma, two names that would immediately raise the club’s profile and bolster the squad’s core. Sources claim negotiations are already moving at an accelerated pace, underlining the club’s determination to get business done before rivals can react.
For months, the club has been under fire for unclear recruitment strategies, lack of depth, and uncertainty about its future direction. But this latest push signals a shift in approach. Erik ten Hag, whose position has been under review since INEOS took over, appears set to benefit from a rare show of boldness in the market. This isn’t just about signing players — it’s about reasserting Manchester United’s ambition.
Baleba, Brighton’s 20-year-old midfield powerhouse, is being earmarked as the engine room United have lacked for years. Young, fearless, and already adapted to the Premier League, he’s seen as the kind of signing who can anchor the midfield for a decade. Alongside him, Donnarumma — the Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper who has been a rock for PSG — would be a statement purchase, shoring up a position that has long been in flux.
Together, they would represent more than just squad upgrades; they would form the spine of a team built to compete at the very highest level. This approach suggests United are not merely patching problems but laying the foundations for a genuine resurgence.
The story takes a twist with Manchester City’s interest in Baleba. Pep Guardiola reportedly views him as an ideal successor in midfield, but United’s camp is fighting hard to keep him away from the Etihad. Advisors and former club legends have been pressing Baleba to choose Old Trafford, promising him a central role in the club’s rebuild rather than a rotation spot in City’s established machine.
One insider reportedly summed it up: “At United, we’re not offering him a place on the bench — we’re offering him a chance to make history.” Such a pitch could prove decisive, especially for a young player looking to define his career early on.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS football division are said to be directly steering the negotiations, ensuring the deals are structured cleverly enough to dodge Financial Fair Play roadblocks. Both Brighton and PSG are known for driving hard bargains, but United’s urgency — and willingness to find creative payment solutions — could tilt the odds in their favour.
If the club can get these transfers over the line, it could change the entire narrative before the season begins. Donnarumma in goal, Baleba energising the midfield, and a clear signal to rivals that United are once again ready to compete — this is the kind of statement fans have been demanding. The challenge now is speed; with City circling and both selling clubs known for tough stances, United will have to act decisively to make this summer one to remember.
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