Manchester United are preparing to take on Hull in their first Premier League game of the season on Saturday afternoon, and Michael Carrick has some big decisions to make.

The Red Devils have had a busy summer with four new arrivals, including a midfield rebuild that has seen Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, while a deal is close to being agreed with Brighton to bring in Carlos Baleba too.

But with a little over a week remaining of the transfer window, there is also a belief that there could be more signings on the way, including additions in the forward department.

Man Utd’s pre-season didn’t go massively to plan. The team won just two of their six games within the 90 minutes, and had many players joining up late with the squad as a result of their participation at the World Cup.

• 0-1 vs Wrexham
• 5-0 vs Rosenborg
• 2-1 vs Atletico Madrid
• 1-1 vs PSG
• 1-1 vs Leeds (won 5-4 on pens)
• 2-4 vs AC Milan

But one of the bigger stories from the team’s preparation was the fact that starting striker Benjamin Sesko hasn’t featured for a single minute in any of the games as he continues to recover from an injury picked up at the end of last season.

While he has since returned to training and could be in the squad against Hull to pick up some minutes, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll get the nod from the start. That would normally mean the backup striker, Joshua Zirkzee, would get the nod to step into the starting lineup. However, that seems unlikely too, with Bryan Mbeumo more likely to get the number nine role.

Mbeumo was the club’s top scorer last season in all competitions, and also during pre-season with three goals, and Carrick showed last season that he is a fan of using the Cameroonian in a central position too.

With Matheus Cunha, Amad, Patrick Dorgu, and Marcus Rashford all available to play on the wings too, it means the team wouldn’t be lacking in attack should the manager choose to go with that once again.

But it does mean that he clearly doesn’t believe in Zirkzee to lead the line for his team, and that is likely to be the end of the Netherlands international’s Old Trafford career.

Zirkzee Future in Carrick’s Hands

REUTERS

Zirkzee’s arrival from Bologna two summers ago was seen as a shrewd signing, but he has struggled with the pace and physicality of the Premier League.

In pre-season, however, he has been impressive, scoring against Rosenborg and Leeds with two well-taken strikes. He links up well with the other forwards in the squad, and holds the ball up well too, while technically he is one of the best at the club.

But after missing out on a spot in the World Cup squad due to a lack of game time, Zirkzee needs regular minutes if he is going to stay. If he isn’t going to be selected when Sesko is out injured, then the chances of regular minutes looks slim.

There is strong interest from Italy in his signature, and an exit would look inevitable if Carrick decides to ignore him as an option once again on Saturday.

Manchester United have agreed a deal with Brighton to sign Carlos Baleba, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Red Devils have been pushing to rebuild their midfield all summer, with the Cameroon international a leading target since last summer, when they agreed personal terms to bring him to Old Trafford.

A deal never materialised then, with Brighton demanding a fee in excess of £100m at the time, but after a disappointing individual campaign, and with the player desperate to make the switch, they have now agreed a deal worth much less.

According to Romano, Man Utd have agreed a deal for Baleba to finally make the switch, joining Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans as new additions in midfield for Michael Carrick.

The 22-year-old will now travel for a medical at Carrington before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the 20-time English champions, as they look to win their first Premier League title since 2013.

Man Utd chiefs are understood to believe that Baleba could be a transformative signing for the club’s midfield, and he will now compete alongside the two new signings, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo for a starting spot in the heart of the team.

A verbal agreement is now in place between the two clubs, after United send a new bid following their £65m bid being rejected.

When Could Baleba Make His Man Utd Debut?

Baleba is ready to join Man Utd in the coming days, but he is unlikely to be able to make his debut straight away after he suffered an ankle ligament injury during pre-season.

The injury was initially expected to keep him sidelined for a while, but it’s understood that the problem is not as bad as originally feared, and he should be able to return to action in September.

United will take on Hull, Ipswich, Everton, Man City, and Fulham before the international break, and will hope that Baleba is able to return before then.

Toni Kroos doesn’t think Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d’Or this year because of their ‘average’ seasons at the club level.

Mbappe and Messi were at the top of their game at this summer’s World Cup, going toe-to-toe in the Golden Boot race. They starred for their nations, with France losing to eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals, who also defeated Argentina in the final.

The attacking duo earned plaudits throughout the tournament in which Mbappe pipped Messi at the top of the goalscoring ranks. The Real Madrid forward bagged 10 goals while the Inter Miami star finished with eight.

Kroos on Ballon d’Or: Surprise Name Beats Mbappe and Messi

Left: REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Right: REUTERS/Lee Smith

Mbappe failed to get his hands on the World Cup for the second time in his career after Madrid’s disappointing season. The 27-year-old’s club finished the campaign trophyless for just the sixth time in the 21st century.

Messi also missed out on glory as his nation lost its crown in bitter fashion, and speculation is growing over his future in the sport. The 39-year-old did get his hands on silverware with Inter Miami, captaining the Herons to the MLS Cup back in December.

While the pair are considered contenders in the race for the Ballon d’Or, Kroos has ruled both of them out along with England’s World Cup hero Jude Bellingham and Barcelona’s new boy Rodri. He believes the award should go to a Champions League winner:

“The Ballon d’Or should go to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He probably won’t win but he’s the number one without hesitation. The best World Cup players: Messi, Jude (Bellingham), Mbappe, Rodri had average club seasons. Kvara was the best player from currently the best club in the world.”

Kroos’ comments are bound to set tongues wagging, given Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wasn’t even at the World Cup after Georgia failed to qualify. He stayed at home while his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Fabian Ruiz became a world champion.

Kvaratskhelia’s absence during the tournament will harm his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. He wasn’t able to showcase his world-class ability on the biggest stage in football.

That said, Kvaratskhelia enjoyed yet another stellar season at the Parc des Princes, helping Enrique’s side win the continental treble. The 25-year-old winger flourished and proved his worth as one of, if not the best, left-wingers in world football.

Kroos Not The Only One Backing Kvaratskhelia

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in London this year and we will find out who is deemed the best player in the world on October 26th. If history repeats itself, it will be either a World Cup winner or a Champions League winner who earns football’s most prestigious individual award.

Kvaratskhelia certainly has support and Unai Emery, like Kroos, reckons he deserves to finish at the top of the podium. The Aston Villa boss said ahead of his side’s UEFA Super Cup defeat to PSG:

​”Kvaratskhelia is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or in my opinion. He is fantastic… Of course, his impact was fantastic two years ago at Napoli and now at PSG. He was one of the best players who was not at the World Cup, and he is fit. The decision isn’t mine, but I think he can win this trophy.”

AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf echoed Emery’s stance on the Georgian with a massive endorsement:

“Kvaratskhelia is the best player in the world and he’s only going to get better. … He carries the team in certain moments so I like his intelligence. He’s unbelievable.”

As for Kvaratskhelia’s own manager, Enrique has given his own verdict and believes another PSG star should be crowned the Ballon d’Or winner. It’s proving to be one of the toughest races to call in years, given the lack of Parisian representation in Spain’s World Cup-winning team.