Man United Ship Collyer to West Brom, Still Chasing Baleba Like It’s the Last Slice of Pizza
So, the soap opera that is United’s midfield merry-go-round just spun again. Toby Collyer? He’s packing his bags for West Brom on loan for the season. Meanwhile, Old Trafford’s transfer crew are still sweating buckets trying to land Carlos Baleba from Brighton. Honestly, the drama never stops.
Collyer, who’s just 21 and already clocked 13 games for United—pretty wild, right?—had half the Championship sniffing around him. Everyone wanted a piece, but Jonny Evans (yes, that Jonny Evans, now playing loan matchmaker) nudged him towards West Brom. Can’t blame him—he knows the place like the back of his hand.
Why West Brom Got Their Guy
Hull City? They thought they had Collyer in the bag, quietly smug about it. But nope, they couldn’t cough up the loan fee thanks to some transfer ban drama. West Brom, on the other hand, ticked all the boxes. Good setup for young players, proper cash on the table, and United’s staff liked the look of it. Makes sense—no point sending your up-and-comer somewhere he’ll just warm the bench in the rain.
Collyer’s Big Break
Remember that Community Shield match where United got spanked by City? That’s when Collyer made his debut. But things got spicy after Ruben Amorim rocked up in November. Suddenly, Collyer’s on the pitch way more—ten of his appearances were under Amorim. The guy likes his midfielders quick on their feet, so Collyer fit right in.
And the kid’s got his head screwed on. Last month, he basically said, “I just wanna play, don’t care if it’s here or out on loan, as long as I’m getting better.” Eyes on the prize and all that.
What’s Up With Baleba?
While Collyer’s sorting out his train ticket to the Midlands, United’s still eyeing up Carlos Baleba like he’s the answer to all their prayers. The guy’s 21, got legs for days, tackles, passes, the works. Thing is, Brighton aren’t messing about. They want a cool £100 million. Not exactly chump change, right? United’s brass have to figure out if they go all-in now or wait and risk someone else swooping in.
Final Whistle Looms
Tick-tock—deadline’s coming. The fans are getting twitchy, the midfield still looks like a work-in-progress, and who knows if Baleba’s coming. But hey, if Collyer smashes it at West Brom, United might just have a ready-made star walking back through the door next summer.
FAQ: United’s Midfield Circus
Q: Why’d United loan Collyer to West Brom?
A: Simple—West Brom guaranteed game time, had a good setup, and paid up. Other clubs just couldn’t match it.
Q: Is Baleba actually signing for United?
A: United want him bad, but Brighton are holding out for £100 million. That’s a lot of zeroes. Could go either way.
Q: How many games did Collyer play last season?
A: 13 in total, and 10 of those were under Amorim. Busy lad.
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