Manchester United's summer rebuild has run into two different problems. Fabrizio Romano says the club are not proceeding with a move for Carlos Baleba because his injury makes the deal more complicated, and Newcastle have already told United that Lewis Hall is not for sale this summer.

Baleba's injury changes the picture

Romano's line is blunt enough. He said, “The injury for Carlos Baleba is making things more complicated. So Man United at the moment are not proceeding with the Carlos Baleba deal.” Baleba is also due to miss the start of the 2026/27 campaign, and his price had reportedly dropped to around £50m.

That is the part of the story that has shifted the most quickly. United have not been said to have agreed anything for Baleba, and the current position is simply that the club are stepping back from the deal for now.

Newcastle's stance on Hall

The Hall side looks even less flexible. Keith Downie reported that Newcastle told United Hall is not for sale this summer, after an initial enquiry was rejected. Romano has also said Newcastle want to keep Lewis Hall, want him to be part of the project, and want him to stay.

There is a wider squad argument around that pursuit. Phil Bardsley said United need “at least one more midfielder, someone who is more defensively-minded, and another left-back.” He also said Luke Shaw cannot always be relied on for a full season, especially with Champions League football back on the schedule, and that Hall would be the perfect fit.

The numbers around the clubs underline the gap in attitude. United are projected to finish 16th in the 2026 Premier League table, after ending 2025 in 3rd with 71 points. Newcastle finished 12th in 2025, and they are still behaving like a club protecting its best pieces rather than entertaining exits.

Hall's recent form is part of why they can take that stance. He has a 6.7 average rating across his last five league matches, with one 7.5 in that run. Shaw's last five league appearances average 6.64, which does not exactly remove the concern Bardsley raised.

United need more than one answer in the market, but both of the routes they have explored are blocked for now. Baleba looks complicated because of injury, and Newcastle have made their position on Hall plain enough for United to move on unless something changes before the window closes.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →