Manchester United have stepped away from their pursuit of Carlos Baleba, with Brighton & Hove Albion making it clear they have no intention of letting the midfielder leave this summer.
United had made informal enquiries about the 21-year-old’s availability and potential cost, but no formal offer was ever submitted.
Sources around the club stressed that Brighton’s position was firm from the outset, and any deal would have required a fee well beyond United’s reach at this stage of the window.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler underlined the club’s stance on Friday, saying he was “very, very, very confident” the Cameroon international would remain on the south coast.
Previewing Brighton’s season opener against Fulham, Hürzeler even joked that the only change in Baleba of late was his haircut, praising the player’s attitude and integration with the squad.
“*He only changed his hair, that was the only change he made in the last two weeks! But overall, he seems to be in a really good place. He’s enjoying it with his team-mates. He’s enjoying being a Brighton player.*”
United Shift Focus Elsewhere
With Brighton immovable on their asking price, United have now accepted that the matter is closed before the window shuts on 1 September.
The club’s recruitment team is continuing to review midfield options, with Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand among the names under consideration.
Hjulmand, a 26-year-old Denmark international, is a player United manager Rúben Amorim knows well. His availability could tempt United, though there remains a possibility that the club will hold fire altogether, having already committed more than £200 million on three senior signings this summer without significant sales to offset spending.
Brighton’s Stance & Baleba’s Value
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille two years ago in a £23.2 million deal and has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s emerging midfielders. Last season, he made 34 league appearances, scoring three goals as Brighton secured an eighth-place finish.
With three years left on his contract, Brighton are in a strong position to resist approaches, and Baleba’s value will only rise if he continues to develop as expected.
United’s Early Season Challenge
Manchester United will now head into their opening match against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday with their midfield options unchanged. The fixture is part of a challenging start to the campaign, with games against Chelsea and Manchester City also looming in the first weeks of the season.
For Amorim, the immediate focus is on making the most of the players already at his disposal, while keeping one eye on opportunities that may still arise in the market.