Manchester United have one vital concern in trying to sign a midfield alternative to Carlos Baleba for Ruben Amorim this summer, according to sensational reports.
Carlos Baleba remains on Manchester United’s radar and the 21-year-old Cameroonian midfielder is thought of highly among the Old Trafford hierarchy.
The Cameroon international has become a key first-team player at the Amex and Baleba impressed with his run of form during the 2024-25 Premier League season.
United-linked Baleba made 40 appearances across all competitions for the Seagulls and the Brighton midfielder netted four times and registered two assists.
Baleba is under contract with Brighton until 2028 and it is believed that the Seagulls have no intention of selling the Cameroon star ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The Seagulls ace has been one of many midfield names linked with United this summer alongside the likes of Morten Hjulmand, Ederson and Richard Rios.
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Manchester United target Carlos Baleba on the ball during the Premier League match between Wolves and Brighton at the Molineux in 2025 in Wolverhampton, England.
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
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Man Utd’s worry about Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand amid their pursuit of Brighton star Carlos Baleba
Manchester United’s interest in Carlos Baleba has intensified in recent weeks and the Red Devils could make a formal move for the Brighton midfielder this summer.
Morten Hjulmand played under Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP and the 40-year-old United manager is believed to be a big admirer of the Danish defensive midfielder.
The 26-year-old Denmark international ascended to the Sporting CP captaincy under Amorim and Hjulmand has attracted the interest of Juventus and Manchester City.
According to The Independent, United have ‘looked’ at the technical Sporting skipper as a potential midfield signing for Red Devils boss Amorim in the summer window.
However, the newspaper added that United have ‘questions’ over Hjulmand and the Red Devils’ main concern is over his ‘physicality for the position they want.’
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Man Utd’s transfer position on Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba amid being linked with Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand
Hjulmand is under contract with Sporting CP until 2028 and the Juventus and Manchester City-linked midfielder has a £68m (€80m) release clause in his deal.
The Independent reports that Baleba is believed to be United’s top midfield transfer target ahead of Sporting ace Hjulmand and Atalanta defensive midfielder Ederson.
The publication claims that Ederson is ‘admired’ at United, but the 26-year-old Brazil international is viewed for a ‘slightly different role’ compared with Baleba.
It has been reported that Baleba, who arrived at Brighton in 2023 from Lille, is the midfielder who is best suited for the ‘profile’ that United want at Old Trafford.
Baleba also has ‘further attraction’ for United due to the ‘huge potential’ that the Cameroon midfielder has shown since his arrival in England with the Seagulls.