Manchester United are eyeing a move for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Carlos Baleba is a player Manchester United fans have been discussing during the summer transfer window, almost trying to manifest a move.
The dream move might become a reality. Manchester United have made contact with Brighton to explore a deal, via intermediaries.
United were first linked to Carlos Baleba back in 2023, and transfer insider Graeme Bailey tells United In Focus that the Red Devils are in ‘regular contact’ with the midfielder’s camp.
Former star Rio Ferdinand recently claimed Baleba is a ‘Ruben Amorim type player’ who would be well suited to joining the Red Devils.
Carlos Baleba in yellow Brighton kit.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Carlos Baleba talked up three players he admired
Speaking in an interview earlier this year, Carlos Baleba spoke about his ambitions to reach an incredibly high level set by two Champions League winners.
Speaking to The Sun, Baleba cited two Real Madrid stars, commenting: “I need to stay focused, stay calm, not rush, and not let what people write get in my head. If I keep working hard, I can be like Luka Modric or Toni Kroos, I just need to stay grounded.”
And despite his attempts to stay grounded, Baleba has incredibly high goals, helped by seeing City midfielder Rodri win the top individual honour in world football.
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He said: “I want to win the Ballon d’Or like Rodri. I watched him during the Euros and before his injury I played against him and time I got the ball, he was right in front of me.
“His success has opened the door for midfielders like us to believe we can win the Ballon d’Or someday.”
It certainly will not be lost on Baleba that the best way for him to reach his goal of winning the Ballon d’Or is by joining a high-profile club.
While Manchester United do not currently have Champions League football on offer, the club can provide a global platform and surround him with top class players, it will be up to Baleba to do the rest.
Ex-United star Paul Pogba is Carlos Baleba’s first idol
Carlos Baleba’s true idol is former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, according to comments he made in an interview back in 2022, when he was a teenager coming through at Lille.
Speaking to the club website, Baleba explained: “I had a lot of idols that I watched on TV, especially in midfield: Paul Pogba at first, Kevin De Bruyne at second, and Thiago Alcântara at third. I watched them, I tried to imitate what they did. I never had any other dream than football.”
Baleba could have a chance to follow in Paul Pogba’s footsteps at Old Trafford, and a fee might end up being similar.
Paul Pogba is still United’s record signing at £89 million, and Brighton would be holding out for a significant fee for Baleba, having landed above £100 million from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo two years ago.