Manchester United plan to open transfer talk with Brighton and Hove Albion for highly-rated midfielder Carlos Baleba
Manchester United are making some smart moves in the transfer window.
INEOS have done their bit to address last season’s problems of scoring goals by upgrading the forward department with the additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. The manner in which they beat Newcastle United to Sesko’s signing was commendable, and that too, without the lure of European football.
Now, the attention has switched to midfield, where Ruben Amorim’s men struggled to control games far too often. With Casemiro well past his prime, Manuel Ugarte yet to prove himself and Kobbie Mainoo’s position in the starting XI not guaranteed, a defensive midfielder is now on the top of the club’s agenda.
Manchester United plan to open transfer talk with Brighton and Hove Albion for highly-rated midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Carlos Baleba is open to joining Manchester United this summer
Agreeing personal terms with Brighton star won’t be a problem
Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba has emerged as a top target for Manchester United in recent times. The 20-time English champions have explored a deal to sign the 21-year-old and held talks over a potential move via intermediaries; however, Brighton have made their stance clear that they no interest in selling their highly-rated midfielder this summer.
Yet, according to a report from The Daily Mirror, Man United are still planning to pursue a move for Carlos Baleba and are confident that personal terms for the Cameroon international wouldn’t be a problem. The youngster is keen on a move to Old Trafford, clearing the first obstacle over a possible deal. Well, this has now given the club’s key decision-makers to plan transfer talks with Brighton.
Baleba had a fantastic 2024/25 season, combining his technical ability on the ball with power, physicality and work rate to control the tempo of Brighton’s play from the middle of the park. He formed a strong partnership with Yasin Ayari in the middle of the park, as Fabian Hurzeler’s side finished an impressive eighth in the PL table.
The aforementioned report adds that the Seagulls will demand a fee of at least £100m for Baleba and he is expected to become the most expensive African footballer of all time if he leaves the AMEX Stadium this summer.
Manchester United plan to open transfer talk with Brighton and Hove Albion for highly-rated midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Manchester United have earmarked Carlos Baleba as their summer’s priority midfield target
Signing Baleba is an absolute no-brainer
Convincing Brighton to part ways with the young talent certainly won’t be easy, considering his importance to Hurzeler’s side, and affording a deal is complicated given United have already spent over £200million this summer. This leaves INEOS with no other alternative but to quickly sell misfits such as Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho. Tyrell Malacia is still a part of the club but not in Amorim’s plans, so he has to also go.
Brighton demanding a minimum £100m for the African enforcer is steep, but he possesses the qualities to become a transformative signing for Amorim’s United. Baleba’s ball-control, reading of the game, physicality, engine and spatial awareness make him a great fit in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system. Add his Premier League experience to the mix, and he could solve the Red Devils’ midfield problem for the best part of the decade.
At 21 and with huge potential to unlock, Baleba could become a game-changing signing for our club if INEOS pull off a deal before the transfer window slams shut. The hope remains low, but if going by how INEOS have conducted their transfer business this summer and lured top talents to the club without any kind of European football, then it is not impossible.