Sheringham not sold on £70m Baleba and warns United signing faces six-month adjustment

Teddy Sheringham has delivered a cautious verdict on Manchester United’s £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba, arguing the 22-year-old Cameroonian will need up to six months before supporters can properly judge him at Old Trafford.

Baleba arrived from Brighton as a direct replacement for the departed Casemiro, and manager Michael Carrick has indicated the midfielder’s debut is expected within 10 to 14 days — likely in a Premier League or Carabao Cup fixture. His final appearance for the Seagulls came in a 3-0 defeat to United on the final day of last season, a campaign in which he made 31 top-flight appearances.

“I’m not sold on Carlos Baleba — we’ve not seen him play at a club with the pressure of Man United yet, so it’ll take six months or so before we can get a real idea,” Sheringham said.

The former United and England striker drew a sharp contrast between Baleba and fellow summer arrival Youri Tielemans, who has started all three of United’s opening fixtures and impressed particularly in the 5-2 home win over Ipswich. Sheringham suggested the Belgian’s pedigree made his seamless integration more predictable.

“When you bring in two or three signings, they’re expected to be playing. With someone like Tielemans, everyone talks highly of him and you expect him to go straight into the side, which has been the case,” he said.

Sheringham also pointed to Kobbie Mainoo as a potential obstacle to Baleba’s early progress. The England international has established himself as a key figure in United’s midfield, and Sheringham believes the new signing may find opportunities limited as a result.

“Someone like Baleba, with Kobbie Mainoo playing, might have to bide his time. When that chance does come, they’ve got to grab it with both hands,” he added.

Sheringham also touched on the pressure facing Carrick in his first full season as permanent manager, describing the scrutiny on the former United midfielder as “huge” given the club’s expectations and the significant outlay on new personnel this summer.

United’s next Premier League fixture is the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, following their midweek Champions League tie against Sabah FK.