Manchester United have shocked rivals Manchester City in the race for Brighton star Carlos Baleba, according to GIVEMESPORT sources - with the Cityzens having planned to make a bid for his talents next summer.
Sources have revealed that City had been hoping to make a move for Baleba next summer, as Pep Guardiola plans to upgrade his midfield for the long-term - and have been weighing him up as a 'serious' option, alongside rival midfielder Adam Wharton, with both having impressed massively for their respective teams in the Premier League.
Sources: Man Utd 'Surprise' Man City With Carlos Baleba Approach
baleba brighton
However, United's serious interest in the Cameroonian star has come as a surprise to their cross-city rivals. It does fit in with United's mantra, with Ruben Amorim having demanded the Red Devils to push their ambitions in the transfer market, to finally get back to where they used to be in the Premier League, and looking at someone of Baleba's ability shows their capabilities when going big.
United are also understood to be aware that City and Liverpool have interest in the player, even if their rivals aren't going to make a move for Baleba earlier this window - and that is why they have now fast-tracked a move to try and beat them to his signing to try and win the race for his services in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.
The Red Devils have been proactive in the current window, with Bryan Mbeumo joining from Brentford after a 20-goal haul in the Premier League, alongside Matheus Cunha arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers - and with RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko being the cherry on the icing on the cake in a new-look front three, goals are expected to be no issue at Old Trafford next season.
Baleba would join the Red Devils as an enforcer, breaking up play and supplying creative stars such as Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo with the ball to consistently create chances under Amorim - though he has more in his locker and could even create chances himself, as well as offering defensive security in the engine room.
Baleba has massively impressed at the AMEX Stadium since his move from Lille two years ago, featuring in 34 games last season and scoring three goals as Fabian Hurzeler's men managed an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League - and, at the age of just 21, his attributes have tempted the division's biggest clubs.
Fabrizio Romano earlier revealed to GIVEMESPORT that it could cost £120million to lure him away from the south coast, and in doing so, that would break the Premier League's transfer record - which is currently Moises Caicedo's Brighton exit to Chelsea for £115million.
Sign up to The GIVEMESPORT Reportto get exclusive daily updates from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Dean Jones and Tom Bogert sent straight to your inbox.