Manchester United are hoping to send shivers down the spine of the footballing world, which is what will happen if a deal for Carlos Baleba is secured this summer.
Considering Brighton’s asking price of more than £100m, and Man Utd already spending close to £200m on their three new acquisitions, the Carlos Baleba deal will send shockwaves as United kept pleading poverty heading into the window.
Talks with Baleba have gone well, which is half the battle, but the bigger war is negotiating with Brighton, who want to make the deal as difficult as possible.
For it to happen, Baleba might have to take a step or two of his own, much like what Bryan Mbeumo did, and United have already been reported to use the trick they did in Mbeumo’s chase.
Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and ACF Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 09, 2025
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Man Utd all-in on Carlos Baleba transfer
A major reason why the deal for Bryan Mbeumo took time was that United could afford to take time.
That is because the player had made clear he wanted to come to Old Trafford, leaving no space for bidding wars or last-minute hijackings.
United’s pull remains as massive as ever, but it was notable that the club attacked that deal from all sides to make it as smooth as possible.
While the club negotiated hard with Brentford, United players were constantly in Mbeumo’s ears, urging him to solidify his choice and take some leverage away from Brentford.
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Onana’s talks with Mbeumo have already been revealed since he made the move, and David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that United players are up to the same trick again.
He reports that a “number of United players” have been in contact with Baleba, explaining the club’s future landscape and ambitions.
Onana would undoubtedly be one of those players as a fellow Cameroonian, and Mbeumo’s arrival adds to the Cameroonian flavour at the club.
Baleba can complete the trinity of excellence from Cameroon, and the players at Old Trafford are leaving no stone unturned in making it happen from their side.
Baleba deal won’t go down to the wire
Brighton are extremely competent in the transfer market, and their squad planning is long-term to protect the interests of the club.
Therefore, despite the deal looking so difficult, the likelihood of the deal going down to the wire isn’t much.
Regardless of whether United’s attempts are successful or not, they will receive clarity from Brighton soon because, in either case, they would want to reintegrate the player or secure a replacement.
United have acted competently in the transfer market under Ineos, so the fact that they are happy to send out feelers through the media like this means they are confident they can make something happen.
Even if it is just to unsettle Baleba, like they are doing already by having their players constantly be in his ears, it will help United when Brighton eventually decide to sell him.
The groundwork won’t go to waste, and it is increasingly looking like United have secured first rights on a player who will be the apple of the eye of European elites next summer.
That is, if they don’t sign him this summer!