Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is reportedly preparing to give Carlos Baleba a clearly defined role if the club completes the midfielder’s expected move from Brighton, with the manager understood to have no intention of immediately converting the Cameroon international into a traditional central midfielder.
Instead, Carrick is believed to see Baleba primarily as a defensive midfielder whose biggest responsibility will be to protect the defence, win possession, cover spaces and provide the platform from which United’s more attack-minded players can operate.
The development comes as Manchester United continue to push forward with their pursuit of Baleba, who has been one of the club’s major midfield targets. Reports indicate that United have submitted an offer worth around £65 million, including add-ons, while negotiations with Brighton continue. Baleba has also reportedly agreed personal terms with United, although the final agreement between the two clubs remains an important step before the transfer can be completed.
For Carrick, the attraction of Baleba is not simply his ability to play passes or carry the ball forward. The United manager is believed to be particularly interested in the physical and defensive qualities that the 22-year-old could bring to the middle of the pitch. Baleba has developed a reputation for his ability to cover large areas, compete physically, recover possession and drive forward when space opens up, but his preference for operating as a No. 6 makes him especially suitable for the role Carrick appears to have in mind.
Rather than asking Baleba to become another box-to-box midfielder, Carrick’s plan would be to make him the defensive foundation of the midfield. The idea would allow other players to take greater responsibility in attacking areas while Baleba concentrates on maintaining the team’s balance. His positioning would become particularly important when United have possession because he would be expected to remain behind the more advanced midfielders and provide protection against counter-attacks.
That tactical decision could be significant for Manchester United because the club have spent much of the summer trying to reshape their midfield. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos have already been brought in, while Baleba is being pursued as another important addition. Reports have described United’s midfield as an area requiring substantial reinforcement following departures and injury problems, with Carrick looking for greater depth and quality ahead of a season that will also include Champions League football.
Carrick’s decision to keep Baleba in a defensive midfield position would also make sense because it would allow the player to focus on the characteristics that made him attractive to United in the first place. Baleba is aggressive when challenging for the ball, possesses impressive athleticism and has the ability to cover ground quickly. Those qualities can become particularly valuable in a team that wants to press high and attack with numbers but still needs someone capable of stopping opponents from exploiting the space left behind.
The former Manchester United midfielder appears determined to build a side with greater balance, and that balance could depend heavily on having a reliable player sitting in front of the defence. Carrick’s successful interim spell last season was built around improving United’s structure and restoring confidence to a team that had previously struggled for consistency. He eventually guided the club to third place and helped secure Champions League qualification before being appointed on a permanent basis.
Baleba could therefore become one of the most important pieces of Carrick’s tactical project. Instead of expecting him to contribute heavily to goals and assists, Carrick could measure his success through recoveries, interceptions, defensive positioning, pressing, ball retention and his ability to protect United’s centre-backs. That would give the midfielder a clearly defined job and potentially allow him to develop into one of the most important defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
There is also an argument that keeping Baleba in the No. 6 role could actually help Manchester United’s attacking players. Bruno Fernandes, for example, would be able to operate higher up the pitch without constantly worrying about leaving the midfield exposed. The same could apply to other attacking midfielders who are given greater freedom to move between the lines. With Baleba providing defensive security behind them, United could potentially commit more players forward without completely sacrificing their defensive structure.
This is particularly important because United are expected to face opponents who will attempt to exploit transitions. When a team attacks with several players, losing possession can leave significant spaces in midfield. A player such as Baleba can provide the first line of protection after possession is lost, using his speed and physical strength to slow down counter-attacks and allow his teammates to recover their positions.
Carrick may also believe that Baleba’s natural instincts are better suited to the defensive role than asking him to play as an advanced central midfielder. Although the Cameroon international has demonstrated the ability to carry the ball and contribute to attacks, his defensive qualities are arguably what separate him from many of United’s other midfield options.
Reports have specifically noted that Baleba prefers playing as a No. 6, making Carrick’s reported plan potentially beneficial for both manager and player. Rather than forcing him into a role that requires him to constantly operate in the final third, United could use him in the position where he feels most comfortable and where his physical qualities can have the greatest influence.
The decision could also affect the roles of the other midfielders at Old Trafford. If Baleba becomes the primary defensive midfielder, players such as Tielemans, Santos and Kobbie Mainoo could be used with greater attacking freedom depending on the opponent and formation. Carrick would have the option of pairing Baleba with a technically gifted midfielder or using a more energetic partner when United need greater control in the centre.
It would also give Carrick greater flexibility in Champions League matches. European games can require a different tactical approach from Premier League fixtures, particularly when United are playing away from home against technically strong opponents. Having Baleba protecting the midfield could allow Carrick to build a more compact structure without completely sacrificing the team’s ability to transition quickly from defence to attack.
For Baleba himself, the move would represent a major opportunity. He joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and has since developed into one of the Premier League’s most physically impressive young midfielders. His progress has attracted attention from major clubs, and United’s determination to bring him to Old Trafford demonstrates the level of importance they attach to strengthening the position.
The current transfer pursuit is particularly interesting because Brighton previously placed a much higher valuation on the player. United’s latest offer is reported to be around £60 million up front with another £5 million in potential add-ons, significantly below the valuation associated with Baleba during the previous transfer window. Negotiations are therefore still an important part of the story, but United appear increasingly confident about completing the deal.
If the transfer is completed, Carrick will have an opportunity to shape Baleba’s development from the beginning. The manager can establish exactly where he wants the midfielder to position himself, when he should drop between the centre-backs, when he should press opponents and when he should carry the ball forward. That clarity could be particularly useful for a young player joining a club where expectations are enormous.
There could also be an important psychological benefit. Rather than arriving at Old Trafford without knowing what is expected of him, Baleba would understand that Carrick wants him to become the team’s defensive anchor. His responsibility would be straightforward: protect the back four, win the ball, maintain midfield balance and provide a reliable passing option when United regain possession.
That does not necessarily mean Baleba would be completely forbidden from moving forward. Modern defensive midfielders are expected to contribute in possession, and Baleba’s ability to carry the ball could still be an important weapon. The difference would be that his attacking movements would need to be carefully controlled. Carrick would likely want him to choose his moments rather than constantly abandoning his defensive position.
This could make Baleba particularly valuable against teams that sit deep. When opponents defend with large numbers behind the ball, United may need midfielders capable of carrying possession into advanced areas. Baleba could step forward when the situation demands it, but his primary responsibility would remain maintaining the team’s structure and ensuring United are not vulnerable if the attack breaks down.
The arrival of Baleba could therefore give Carrick something United have lacked in recent seasons: a specialist defensive midfielder capable of combining physicality with mobility. The club have had midfielders who can pass, create and attack, but finding the right player to provide consistent defensive protection has been a recurring challenge.
Carrick’s own experience as a midfielder could also influence how he uses Baleba. During his playing career, Carrick developed a reputation for controlling games from deeper positions, reading danger before it developed and helping his team transition smoothly between defence and attack. Although Baleba has a very different physical profile, Carrick could see the value of giving a defensive midfielder the responsibility of controlling the space in front of the defence.
The manager’s reported stance sends a clear message about what he wants from United’s midfield. He does not appear interested in simply collecting talented midfielders and allowing them to play without defined responsibilities. Instead, Carrick wants players whose qualities complement one another.
Baleba would provide defensive strength. Tielemans could offer passing quality and experience. Santos could provide energy and physical presence, while Mainoo would give Carrick another technically gifted option. Fernandes would continue to influence games higher up the pitch, creating a midfield structure in which each player has a specific purpose.
If Carrick can successfully establish that balance, Baleba’s arrival could become one of the most important elements of Manchester United’s rebuild. The club have already added midfield reinforcements this summer, and reports indicate that Carrick is still interested in strengthening the squad before the transfer window closes.
For United supporters, the prospect of Baleba playing as a dedicated defensive midfielder could be particularly exciting because it could finally provide the team with a strong platform behind its attacking talent. United have invested heavily in improving their forward options, but without midfield protection, even the best attacking players can struggle to influence games consistently.
Carrick’s reported plan would therefore be less about limiting Baleba and more about maximising his strengths. By keeping him primarily in the defensive midfield position, United could turn his physical power, speed, tackling ability and positional discipline into a major tactical advantage.
The biggest challenge will be ensuring that Baleba does not become isolated. A defensive midfielder still needs support from his teammates, especially when opponents overload the centre of the pitch. Carrick will have to ensure that the midfielders around him understand when to drop, when to press and when to move forward.
If that understanding develops, Baleba could become the player who allows United’s entire midfield to function more effectively. His presence could give Fernandes greater freedom, provide protection for the defence and allow Carrick to deploy more attacking players without exposing his team unnecessarily.
Ultimately, Carrick’s reported decision to keep Carlos Baleba primarily as a defensive midfielder would represent a deliberate tactical choice rather than a limitation on the player’s abilities. United would be investing in Baleba because of his potential to become the defensive heartbeat of the midfield, and Carrick appears ready to give him a specific role that could allow him to flourish.
With United preparing for a demanding campaign that includes Premier League and Champions League football, having a dependable defensive midfielder could prove crucial. If the transfer is completed and Baleba adapts quickly to Carrick’s system, the Cameroon international could become one of the most important players in the manager’s new-look Manchester United side.
For now, negotiations remain the focus, but the tactical picture is becoming increasingly clear. Carrick wants balance, structure and defensive security from his midfield, and Carlos Baleba could be the player entrusted with providing it. Rather than turning him into another conventional central midfielder, the manager is reportedly prepared to keep him where he can have the greatest defensive influence: directly in front of the defence, controlling the space, winning the ball and giving Manchester United the foundation needed to attack with greater freedom.