Michael Carrick has refused to confirm Manchester United's expected signing of Carlos Baleba after beginning his permanent tenure with a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Hull City.
United are reportedly closing in on the Brighton midfielder after the clubs found common ground on a package worth around £65million.
Baleba is also said to be undergoing his medical in Manchester, but Carrick would not discuss the transfer until everything is completed.
Carrick refuses to confirm Baleba deal
Asked about reports that Baleba is on the verge of becoming a Manchester United player, Carrick made his position clear.
“I had all eyes on the match today, so any other player, until he's ours, it's not for me to comment on,” the United manager said.
His response comes after significant progress in negotiations between United and Brighton.
The 22-year-old has been a major midfield target for the Red Devils, and an agreement would give Carrick another important option following the summer arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
United supporters may be hoping Baleba's arrival can provide another boost after a difficult start to the Premier League season.
Man Utd beaten by promoted Hull
Carrick's first Premier League match since becoming permanent manager ended in frustration.
United fell 2-0 behind before half-time against newly-promoted Hull and were unable to produce a response after the break.
Santos and Tielemans started together in the new-look midfield, but United struggled to take control of the match.
Carrick attempted to change things by introducing Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko and Kobbie Mainoo during the second half, but none could inspire a comeback.
It leaves United with work to do before their first home match of the season against Ipswich Town.
Carrick calls for patience
Despite the disappointing performance, Carrick does not believe one result should change the mood surrounding United's new season.
“One game doesn't change the whole direction of everything, but we need to be aware where we need to improve,” he said.
The United boss admitted his team still has areas to address and acknowledged that falling behind against a newly-promoted side in their own stadium made the task considerably more difficult.
Carrick nevertheless insisted the defeat will not derail United.
“We're disappointed, but it won't knock us.”
With Baleba potentially close to becoming the latest addition to his squad, Carrick could soon have another major piece of his rebuild available.
Key Points
- Carrick refused to confirm United's expected Carlos Baleba signing.
- United and Brighton have reportedly found common ground on a £65m package.
- Manchester United opened their season with a 2-0 defeat at Hull City.
- Carrick has urged supporters to remain patient despite the disappointing start.
What's Next?
United will look to complete Baleba's transfer before turning their attention to next week's home match against Ipswich. Carrick will be expecting a significant response after a frustrating opening performance.
How much of a difference could Carlos Baleba make to Michael Carrick's Manchester United midfield?
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