Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.
Toby Collyer in action during pre-season.(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer will not be considered as a makeweight in a swap deal for Carlos Baleba.
With the signing of Benjamin Sesko now imminent, Ruben Amorim is targeting the signing of a midfielder and Baleba has been linked with move to Old Trafford from Brighton.
Baleba is valued by Brighton at £100milion and reports have speculated United youngster Collyer could be used as a makeweight, but the Manchester Evening News understands Collyer would not be considered in talks.
Reports have speculated Collyer could be used as a sweetener to sign Baleba this summer because the 21-year-old progressed through Brighton's academy before leaving in 2022.
The MEN previously reported the chance to sign Collyer arose unexpectedly. He was regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the country in his age group and a source at United admitted they were surprised to get the chance to sign him - but they were delighted that they did.
Collyer was born in Worthing, which is around 10 miles from Brighton, and he was destined to break into the first-team at the Amex Stadium until he was let go from the club.
Collyer's future is still up in the air this summer, though. The midfielder has received loan interest and there is thought to be interest from other clubs in signing him on a permanent transfer.
The current indications suggest Collyer will go on loan. "I think first and foremost I want to be here and play as many games for Man United as possible," he recently said in the USA.
"I'll sit down with the manager and higher-ups and see what's the best solution for that. The best way for me to develop, whether it's stay here or go on loan.
"The end goal for me is to play as many minutes as possible here, hopefully starting every week. So yeah, I'll sit down with them.
"Obviously, my feeling at this moment is I want to stay. I want to play as many games as possible. I've not really thought that far ahead to be honest. I'll just see how the next few weeks go and then we'll go over those conversations.
"I'll be able to sit down with them and see what's the best solution for that. But yeah, like you said there as well, obviously there's not a lot of time in football. You need to get the results and get the team progressing. So that's what we're working towards at the minute."
Collyer made his Premier League debut against Liverpool at Old Trafford last season. He made 13 appearances for the first-team in total but was hampered by a small muscle injury.
Last summer, a source discussed Erik ten Hag's fondness for Collyer and another source said he records 'freakish' running stats in training that are only bettered by Bruno Fernandes.
Ruben Amorim has also praised Collyer. "He has very good legs, he's improving with the ball. He knows what he needs to do to play for this club and feels the club in the right way. He's really humble and when you work hard, you get the opportunity," said Amorim in January.
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