Manchester United's Transfer Market Moves After Hull Defeat
Manchester United plan to go back into the transfer market after opening their Premier League season with a bruising 2-0 defeat at Hull City.
Michael Carrick’s first full campaign as United head coach could hardly have started worse. Newly promoted Hull were sharper, stronger and smarter, with Semi Ajayi striking on 17 minutes and Nobel Mendy adding a second before the break to leave the visitors stunned and well beaten.
United had unveiled a new-look midfield, with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos both starting after summer moves. A third reinforcement in that area is already on the way: Carlos Baleba is heading to Carrington for a medical after Brighton & Hove Albion accepted a £70 million offer.
The transfer was agreed just before Arsenal kicked off their own season with a win over Coventry City. It felt like a statement from INEOS on the eve of United’s opener. Then came Hull – and a performance that ripped open old doubts.
Left-back now “crucial” as Balde talks revealed
Inside the club there is a clear sense that the rebuild cannot stop at midfield. The display at the MKM Stadium only sharpened that view. A new left-back has long been on the list and, according to Fabrizio Romano, that search is about to move centre stage.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said United fully intend to add more players after Baleba, with the left side of defence a major focus:
"It's been a bad day for Manchester United, losing to Hull City on the opening 2026-27 Premier League game, but still Manchester United is looking for more signings after Carlos Baleba. The left-back position is going to be crucial, the left-back position is going to be definitely one to watch and I would still keep an eye on movements in that area."
Luke Shaw started at left-back at Hull, just as he did in all 38 league games last season. His reliability is not in question. The lack of genuine cover is. Carrick has no natural rotation option he fully trusts, which is why INEOS are pushing to bring in another full-back.
Lewis Hall was discussed internally, but Newcastle United have made it clear they are not prepared to sell, forcing United to look elsewhere. That search has taken them to Barcelona.
Romano confirmed United have spoken to the camp of Alejandro Balde and outlined the key issue now facing the club:
"It's important to understand how much United can spend on that position because the name I gave you over the week as a possibility is Alejandro Balde. Reports from Spain today are saying Balde is 100% leaving Barcelona following a meeting with his agent Jorge Mendes. Jorge Mendes has been looking for a solution for Balde in recent days. Jorge Mendes had a call with Manchester United, Man United were asking for conditions of a deal for Alejandro Balde. Let's see if they can afford in terms of transfer fee but also salary because Balde is on a big salary at Barcelona."
Hansi Flick is understood to have opened the door for Balde’s departure, and United view the Spaniard as an alternative to Hall. The question is whether they are willing – or able – to meet Barcelona’s demands on both fee and wages.
Hull defeat exposes wider gaps
The loss at Hull did more than underline the need for a left-back. It exposed the fragility of Carrick’s squad in several key areas and showed that INEOS’ rebuild remains incomplete.
Up front, the picture is far from settled. Benjamin Sesko came off the bench and is still working his way back to full sharpness after a long injury lay-off. Matheus Cunha led the line from the start but never imposed himself, struggling to link play or threaten Hull’s back line.
For a club of United’s size, going into a long, demanding season with such uncertainty at centre-forward looks like a calculated risk. Joshua Zirkzee’s future remains unresolved, yet the need for another striker feels obvious regardless of what happens there.
At centre-back, the concerns are different but just as real. Matthijs de Ligt is closing in on a return from injury, and Lisandro Martinez remains a cornerstone of Carrick’s defence. Both, though, have battled fitness problems throughout their United careers. Building an entire season on the assumption that those issues will simply disappear would be optimistic at best.
Romano’s message was clear: Baleba will not be the final arrival. A new left-back is a priority. A striker and another central defender should be right behind on INEOS’ agenda.
The humiliation at Hull has stripped away any illusion that this squad is ready as it is. The window is still open. The question now is whether United move with the same urgency off the pitch that they so badly lacked on it.
