Manchester United are hoping to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba before the summer transfer window slams shut, with the Seagulls star appearing to drop a hint to the Red Devils
19:29, 10 Aug 2025Updated 19:39, 10 Aug 2025
Carlos Baleba
Manchester United have made contact over a deal for Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba appears to have dropped a hint towards Manchester United by liking Leny Yoro's recent Instagram post.
The Red Devils are pulling out all the stops to secure Brighton midfielder Baleba before the summer transfer window slams shut. United boss Ruben Amorim is on the hunt for midfield reinforcements, having already splashed over £200million on a fresh attacking trio.
Baleba, 21, is reportedly the man Amorim has his sights set on to bolster the middle of the pitch, as he remains unimpressed with his current midfield line-up. On Wednesday evening, it emerged that United representatives had reached out to Brighton to thrash out potential terms for the Cameroon international.
The midfielder, who still has three years left on his contract, is touted as one of the brightest young prospects in his role. He's done a brilliant job filling the void left by Moises Caicedo in Brighton's midfield over the past two seasons.
However, United have a tough task ahead to land the player, with Brighton keen to hold onto Baleba for at least another year and reportedly slapping a hefty price tag of over £100m on him.
Carlos Baleba playing for Brighton
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has been linked with a big-money move to Manchester United(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Article continues below
But Baleba might have given a nod towards a move by subtly hinting at United, after liking a recent Instagram post from Red Devils defender Yoro featuring the Frenchman donning the United kit in pre-season. The pair are good mates, having played together for Ligue 1 outfit Lille before Baleba made the switch to Brighton in 2023.
Despite the speculation around Baleba potentially joining the ranks at Old Trafford, Brighton's chief executive Paul Barber has recently quashed rumours that United have been in touch about a transfer for Baleba.
He said: "We've got some great talent, there's always going to be interest in our players. Manchester United have not been in touch with me. From that point of view, speculation is speculation.
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
"We will always try to make sure we sell our best players at the right time, not just for the player but for us. If we end up doing that with any player, it's with the view to leave Fabian with a competitive squad, whatever happens. We don't want to sell our best players. Carlos is a fantastic talent who has a lot of years ahead of him.
"We hope he will be here for many years to come. But it's something that, as always, is subjective to the dynamics of the football world which isn't always predictable."
Article continues below
Baleba fits the bill of the kind of midfielder Ineos has been eyeing for United, given his age, skill and Premier League experience. Club legend Rio Ferdinand also urged United bosses last month to prioritise a move for him over Benjamin Sesko, describing him as a midfielder who can do it all.
It would certainly be a marquee signing for the Red Devils, especially after they already bagged Sesko this week for £74m, beating Newcastle to the Slovenian's signature.