Man Utd not entering the January transfer market to any great degree can't really have come as a surprise to anyone.

Putting to one side the financial aspects of any transfers for one moment, it's clear that the Red Devils absolutely have to get their house in order, in terms of who will be sitting in the dugout from next season, before any decisions are made regarding the shape of the first team moving forward.

Taking stock a sensible step from United

We only have to go back one managerial change to recall Erik ten Hag being given the opportunity to buy new players before being sacked, meaning that Ruben Amorim was left with some members of the playing staff that he clearly didn't want.

With Amorim since suffering a similar fate to his predecessor, Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada - and by association Sir Jim Ratcliffe - couldn't be seen to be bestowing riches upon Michael Carrick unless they were 100% sure he was still going to be the man in charge from the start of the 2026/27 campaign.

Given the start Carrick has made to his second caretaker spell at Old Trafford, he's certainly put himself in the conversation for the permanent role, though he, as much as anyone, will understand the need to be cautious at this point.

As Flashscore transfer insider, Dean Jones, has already noted, however, the club still have to be aware of who might be available in the marketplace come the summer, and what conditions may be attached to any potential transfer.

New central midfielder a must

Various areas of the squad have long been identified as needing an upgrade, and one of these is in central midfield.

Bruno Fernandes, for all of his excellence since joining the club, is getting no younger, and the carrot of one last big payday, perhaps in Saudi Arabia, is something that can no longer be brushed off as insignificant.

If the Portuguese, who will be 32 at the beginning of next season, gets a financial offer to blow any other out of the water, it would be remiss of him to dismiss it out of hand.

Regardless of whether he stays or goes, United have lacked a defensive central midfielder who can get forward in the way that Bryan Robson or Roy Keane used to for the Red Devils.

Ugarte and Mainoo are not the answer

Much was expected of Manuel Ugarte, though he has flattered to deceive, and Kobbie Mainoo is more of an attacking midfielder, despite showing occasional promise in a more defensive role.

Rumours surrounding Brighton's Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson aren't therefore without foundation.

Both players excel defensively, aren't frightened to put their foot in, and can get up and down the pitch if required for 90 minutes.

But how do they compare?

How do Anderson and Baleba compare?

For a start, both are of a similar age, Baleba (22) being slightly younger than Anderson (23). Injuries permitting, they are still some way from their peak as players, and that should bode well for United were they to land one or other.

Neither are noted for their goalscoring prowess, though Anderson's three goals and eight assists in his 72 games for Forest compare favourably to Baleba's four goals and two assists in 99 games for the Seagulls.

It's no wonder that Anderson recently, and belatedly, received international recognition with England too.

During his time with the Tricky Trees, 907 of his 1143 forward passes found their target in the final third, and his bursts forward have resulted in 175 separate occasions where he has made at least 10+ progressive carries, consistently breaking opposition lines and helping to get Forest up the pitch.

A pass completion stat that's never been below 81% during his time at The City Ground is hugely impressive, as is winning 110 of 174 tackles attempted.

Anderson's tenacity has also seen him win back possession on an astonishing 466 occasions, indicating his desire to never allow a direct opponent to settle on the ball.

One other area that he's rarely given credit for is his aerial ability, as here too he's won 103 of 169 headed duels.

As an all-rounder then, Anderson certainly ticks all the boxes, but Baleba is no slouch either.

Finances and the will of the player to decide?

Renowned for his physicality and ability to keep hold of the ball despite being put under the most intense pressure, he has, to date, lost just 77 of the 169 tackles attempted during his time with Brighton.

802 one-on-one duels contested is another acknowledgement of his battling qualities, though he has some way to go to match Anderson's 936 in this regard.

Intriguingly, both have a nearly identical success rate in this part of their game.

Another who rarely gives up a lost cause, Baleba's 401 ball recoveries are laudable, as are his 181 separate 10+ progressive carries.

He, too, is the driving force for his team, and a player who has completed 2660 passes from 2997 made during games.

Clearly, then, both players continue to excel in the various facets of the role that will be demanded by United.

Any potential move will come down to finances and player preference of course, though if Champions League football can be the stated aim for the club, and one that they ultimately achieve, both Brighton and Forest are going to have a hard time convincing their players to stay.

More information about Manchester United on Flashscore.

Carlos Baleba

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