Published Jun 4, 2026, 12:20 PM GMT+1

Emilio is an experienced football journalist who has worked at Football FanCast for over six years.

After graduating with first-class honours from the University of Central Lancashire in 2019, it didn't take long for Emilio to clinch his first job in journalism at Snack Media, now Valnet.

Emilio has written for a host of the company's biggest past and current football news websites - Vital Football, The Transfer Tavern and Football FanCast. 

Emilio's strengths include the intricacies of football transfers, while he particularly enjoys writing about the business side of football. He has covered Tottenham Hotspur on a weekly basis for a number of years now, developing a deep understanding of the culture and what Lilywhites fans engage with.

In his spare time, you can find Emilio travelling the world, or even in a boxing ring.

United have spent much of the past few months assessing ways to add more athleticism, energy and technical quality to the centre of the pitch, amid links to a host of world-class midfielders, and Ederson's arrival represents a significant statement of intent.

The 26-year-old arrives as a direct replacement for Casemiro, who waved goodbye to Old Trafford after an excellent final campaign in Manchester.

However, the work may not be finished there.

Despite securing one new midfielder, reports continue to suggest United remain open to adding further reinforcements in the middle of the park.

Southampton's Mateus Fernandes has been linked in recent weeks, while Brighton star Carlos Baleba has once again emerged as a player firmly on the club's radar.

Carlos Baleba a 'concrete option' for Man Utd after Ederson

Speaking on the GiveMeSport Market Madness podcast, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed that United's admiration for the Brighton midfielder remains after last year's £75m saga.

The talkSPORT reporter explains that the Red Devils already have personal terms in place with the player after agreeing them last year, and the 22-year-old is one to watch for Carrick's side as they look to add another midfield man.

That final point is arguably the biggest takeaway from the update.

Transfer sagas often hinge on personal terms, particularly when clubs are competing for highly-rated players. If Jacobs' information is accurate, United would already have a significant part of the process completed should they decide to reignite their pursuit.

Rather than beginning fresh negotiations with the player, the framework for a potential agreement is reportedly already there from discussions held in 2025.

That could become an important advantage if interest in Baleba intensifies over the coming weeks, especially with reported rival interest from Tottenham.

The Brighton midfielder has long been viewed as one of the Premier League's most talented young central players. Since arriving from Lille, he has demonstrated the physical attributes, ball-carrying ability and defensive qualities that have made him an attractive target for several top clubs.

However, Jacobs also highlighted an important factor regarding valuation.

While United were reportedly willing to spend around £75m on Baleba last summer, it will be interesting to see just how much they'd pay for him now.

For United, that uncertainty could work both ways.

On one hand, it leaves room for negotiation. On the other, Brighton are under no obvious pressure to sell and have traditionally been strong negotiators when dealing with Premier League rivals.

What is clear is that Baleba remains firmly under consideration.

Ederson may already be through the door, but United's midfield reshaping could extend further.

With Mateus Fernandes and Baleba both described by Jacobs as concrete options, the club are clearly continuing to explore ways of strengthening one of the most important areas of Carrick's squad.