Turkish giants Galatasaray have reportedly cooled their interest in Manchester United target Carlos Baleba, according to Turkish outlet Sporx.

Baleba is one of many midfielders on United’s shortlist as they look to replace Casemiro. An enquiry was made for the Cameroonian last summer, but Brighton insisted the player wasn’t for sale.

The Red Devils appeared to place a move for Baleba on the back burner at the start of the ongoing transfer window. But their failure to land top targets including Elliot Anderson means they could turn back to the Seagulls star.

Man Utd won’t face Turkish competition for Baleba

via Reuters

Galatasaray had also been eyeing Baleba and enquired about the cost of a deal for the 22-year-old. After learning of Brighton’s £77m (€90m) asking price, the Turks have backed out of a potential pursuit.

That gives United the chance to press ahead and win the race for the defensive midfielder, although they, too, have had reservations about the price. GIVEMESPORT understands that he remains on the club’s wishlist and he has agreed personal terms.

Baleba’s form dropped last season amid the noise surrounding his future at the Amex. Once an undisputed starter in Fabian Hurzeler’s midfield, the Cameroonian started eight of 31 league appearances on the bench.

United may feel Brighton’s valuation is unjustifiable given the difficult past campaign he endured. That said, he had been a standout performer for the Seagulls the season before with many viewing him as the south coast outfit’s perfect Moises Caicedo heir.

Man Utd need to act soon

United made replacing Casemiro their top priority heading into the summer transfer window. They initially made Elliot Anderson their number one choice to come in for the Brazilian but missed out on the England international, who joined Manchester City for £116m.

Other names have been linked, including Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni. The Frenchman’s salary and the La Liga giants’ reluctance to sell have raised doubts over a potential deal.

Baleba dropped down the midfield shortlist following a disappointing season, but United are running out of viable options to replace Casemiro. When at his best, the Cameroonian is a superb number six, an all-action midfielder who can take games by the scruff of the neck.

United have sealed one midfield signing thus far, bringing Ederson to Old Trafford from Atalanta. They missed out on Mateus Fernandes, who joined Tottenham Hotspur for £85m earlier this week.

England’s passage through to the World Cup round of 16 has set up a fearsome task against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a venue where the hosts have been near enough unbeatable for over half a century.

Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Jill Scott turned their attention to the size of that challenge, with the altitude in Mexico City cited as one of the toughest examinations any visiting side can face.

Before that, though, the panel were still coming to terms with Harry Kane’s heroics in the round of 32 against DR Congo, where the captain’s second-half brace dragged England from the brink of an embarrassing exit.

The altitude at the Azteca has historically caused visiting sides all manner of problems, with fatigue setting in far quicker than players are used to closer to sea level. It’s a factor that’s contributed to Mexico’s remarkable home record stretching back decades, and one that could prove just as significant as anything Thomas Tuchel’s side encounter tactically on the pitch.

Roy Keane Agrees on the Three Best English Players Ever

Kane’s display and England’s win against DR Congo proved the catalyst for a debate the panel couldn’t resist getting stuck into, and it didn’t take long for a consensus to emerge. Keane, along with Neville, Wright and Scott, settled on Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Kane as England’s three greatest players in history. In that order.

After confirming Kane was on the list, Keane went further in his praise for the Bayern Munich man:

It’s a verdict that places Kane alongside two icons of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning side. For a current player to be mentioned in the same breath speaks to just how highly Kane is now regarded by those who have watched and played the game at the highest level.

How Harry Kane Earned Place Among England’s Greatest

Paul Childs via Action Images via Reuters

Kane’s case for inclusion goes further than one brace against Congo. He arrived at this summer’s World Cup as the most in-form striker in the world, is England’s all-time leading goalscorer, and his second goal saw him move above Pele in the all-time World Cup scoring charts.

What separates Kane from other prolific forwards is his consistency at the very top level, both for club and country, over more than a decade. He has carried the goalscoring burden for England throughout multiple tournaments, often dragging his side through difficult moments much like he did against Congo, and his continued influence at 32 shows no sign of slowing down as this World Cup reaches its business end.

Manchester United‘s search for a new holding midfielder goes on, and the latest reports suggest they will pursue a current World Cup standout. Michael Carrick has a few needs to address this summer, and business has been relatively slow so far, although that is not abnormal during a World Cup summer.

Ederson has been snapped up from Atalanta, but the Red Devils still want to find a more natural replacement for Casemiro, who left the club at the end of his contract. Wherever you look at the top of the game, teams are able to call upon elite holding midfielders, so it’s not a position United can fail to address.

Tottenham managed to win the Mateus Fernandes race, but United may go even younger in their midfielder search.

Man Utd now considering World Cup sensation

Burt Granofsky/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA

According to GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs, United have now muscled their way into the race to sign Morocco star Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has emerged as one of the brightest young talents at this World Cup. Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for the 18-year-old this summer, but the race is not over.

The midfielder’s current club, Lille, are said to be asking for €80million this summer, which works out at around £68.5million. More than one club could agree to that fee this summer, giving Bouaddi a pick of clubs.

At just 18 years of age, Bouaddi has gone head-to-head with some of the top midfielders in the world this summer, including Casemiro, and he has looked very comfortable in a Morocco side that asks a lot of midfielders. The African nation play a brand of football that asks midfielders to win back the ball and drive forward quickly, playing with a rapid transition.

The question for United will be whether they feel as though Bouaddi is ready to play week-in, week-out at Premier League level. The Red Devils are only going to sign one midfielder for that kind of money this summer, so they need to be sure about their target being a ready-made starter.

Bouaddi compared to France legend Kante

via Reuters

Morocco boss Mohamed Quahbi has said of Bouaddi this summer: He plays with a lot of maturity and class. He’s the type of player that I always love having in my team. He always plays with his head up and carries himself with real authority. He’s a modern player and is super intelligent – it’s a pleasure to be able to work with him.”

Elsewhere, BBC pundit and former Arsenal and France striker Olivier Giroud has said: “He is a complete player and can perform several roles. He moves everywhere on the pitch. He is a little like Kanté.”