Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos show Michael Carrick why Man Utd desperately need Carlos Baleba after stinker vs Hull

ANDREY SANTOS and Youri Tielemans put the mid in midfield as Manchester United stunk the place out against Hull – and that is being generous. Michael Carrick‘s new-look pairing were completely ineffective behind Bruno Fernandes and left much to be desired in an embarrassing 2-0 loss. Manchester United are desperate to get Carlos Baleba in after losing to Hull Credit: Alamy Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans struggled on their competitive debuts Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The opening day competitive debuts for each went terribly as they were hooked after 67 minutes. In a minor positive, neither Kobbie Mainoo nor Benjamin Sesko had any more luck after coming on, and nobody else had any luck for United. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! But with the club still looking to buy a THIRD midfielder of the window, Brighton may well be thinking about bumping up their asking price for Carlos Baleba. A deal worth around £65million for the player has been agreed but United are so desperate in the centre of the park that they would surely settle for paying even more at this stage. Historic tough negotiators, Brighton could ask United to throw money at them for Baleba and little argument would surely be put up, he is that big of an addition. Where Santos and Tielemans were short against Hull, Baleba drives from deep and covers ground for fun. He is a wide-ranging passer and explosive in marauding across the pitch. None of those words could be used to describe United’s £85million pair on Humberside. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Santos, who cost £50million of that figure from Chelsea, had been one of the standout performers in pre-season. He and Mason Mount, another ex-Blue costing £65million, impressed on tour. But at newly promoted – and massive favourites to go straight back down – Hull, he was stunted. Brazilian Santos may well have completed 52 of his 56 passes (93 per cent) but almost half of those were safely in his own half. He lost the ball FIVE times and only produced one progressive carry despite Hull sitting on the edge of their own penalty area. Usually an adventurous line-breaker, Santos couldn’t impact the game at all. He committed one foul and ended up making more clearances (three) than chances. If Santos stumbled then Tielemans fell flat on his face. The Belgian, a £35million signing from Aston Villa, was even worse. Tielemans was woeful on and off the ball Credit: Shutterstock Editorial He struggled to get things moving Another player used to advancing play in possession, he misplaced EIGHT passes and completed less than 50 per cent of his 62 in Hull’s half. He lost the ball FIVE times trying to get it forward in the middle third and was a hinderance when travelling with it. Hull nabbed the ball off him on 11 occasions and made light work of getting past him when attacking. Tielemans made one foul, was dribbled past twice, and made ZERO defensive contributions. Even Baleba, coming off the back of a tough year on the south coast, will be able to offer more impetus. And Carrick best hope that it moves along quickly as he seeks to get United going. Santos fared better but didn’t replicate his summer form Ticket + hotel room for Man Utd games GET tickets to see Man Utd at Old Trafford with our hand-picked deals. The packages include an official match ticket and an overnight stay in a nearby hotel. Man United Home Games⚽ 30 Aug v Ipswich — BOOK HERE⚽ 13 Sep v Manchester City — BOOK HERE⚽ 10 Oct v Tottenham Hotspur — BOOK HERE⚽ 24 Oct v Bournemouth — BOOK HERE⚽ 7 Nov v Aston Villa — BOOK HERE More games available here. *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. Having spoken up the core of the team as something that could push them into a title race, Carrick was left with egg on his face. Mainoo was left on the bench from the start which frustrated some. And Santos was described as being “nowhere near good enough at this stage of his career to be a starter” by one fan online. They added: “Tielemans looked Sunday league level today. I’m honestly speechless at that performance.” Another said: “Santos and Tielemans struggled to even keep the ball.” A third wrote: “I knew Santos was a scam”. For many, Baleba can’t come soon enough. Comment now