Man Utd Want to Sign £86m La Liga Star as Baleba Alternative, Terms Agreed

Sign in to your GiveMeSport accountManchester United could look to alternative options in their quest for a central midfielder, having been linked with a move for Carlos Baleba in recent days – with Valencia star Javi Guerra in their sights this summer. The report by TBR Football states that United are looking at six alternatives to Baleba, should a deal fail to materialise for the Brighton star after United made their interest clear earlier in the week. Report: Man Utd ‘Could Sign’ Guerra as Baleba Alternative, United chiefs are accelerating their plans ahead of a rebuild, being close to signing Benjamin Sesko as well as moves already going through for Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha earlier in the window – though a move for the Cameroonian midfielder could be costly with a £100million price tag being put on his head from the south coast club. With that in mind, Guerra has been linked with a move to Old Trafford after some strong form at Valencia. It’s thought that the Spaniard is ‘enticed’ by the idea of playing at Old Trafford in the upcoming season, having agreed personal terms, and he could be available for a cut-price £21million due to Valencia’s financial troubles – despite the £86million price tag that he’s had in the past. He would be an upgrade on Casemiro, the report argues, due to the Brazilian declining in both the physical and technical side of his game, with his minutes managed by Ruben Amorim this season. Having spent just south of £200million this summer once Sesko signs in, United may be forced to be financially prudent in some areas, and a cheap move for the engine room maestro could be on the cards for Amorim as he looks to improve both his midfield roster and his goalkeeping options in the remaining weeks of the window. Guerra, just 22 years of age, spent the majority of his teenage years at Villarreal, before moving to Valencia in 2019, making his first-team debut in January 2022 in a Copa del Rey clash. Since then, he’s become a dependable member of the first-team, only missing four matches in La Liga in the past two seasons with Valencia finishing ninth and 12th respectively – despite occupying a relegation spot until early March. The Mestalla outfit only lost three league games in 2025, coming against the ‘big three’ in Spanish football – and his upturn in form could coincide with United’s revival as he looks to do the dirty work for Bruno Fernandes to strut his stuff. Sign up to The GIVEMESPORT Report to get exclusive daily updates from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Dean Jones and Tom Bogert sent straight to your inbox.