Carlos Baleba to Manchester United will not materialise in this window, but that’s not to say a move to Old Trafford won’t happen in future, particularly with Brighton preparing his replacement.
TBR Football revealed that Brighton chairman Tony Bloom refused to entertain offers for Carlos Baleba this summer, with the Seagulls desperate to keep him around at the Amex.
Manchester United really like Carlos Baleba, and see him as the ideal box-to-box midfielder to sit in the six role for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton Hove Albion
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
They’ll surely try for him again next summer, and they’ll be delighted to know Brighton are putting things in place to future-proof a potential life without Baleba.
Malick Yalcouye could be Carlos Baleba’s successor
Malick Yalcouye could be the next big star for the Seagulls, and they’re already putting things in place for his development.
They’ve loaned him to Swansea for the 2025-26 season, in a bid to give the 19-year-old game time.
Yalcouye is a serious talent. Despite only making 11 appearances for his previous side Goteborg, he’s hailed as “one of the greatest talents” in the Swedish league’s history.
“He is one of the greatest talents we’ve ever seen in the Swedish league’s history,” Swedish journalist Daniel Kristoffersson told Albion’s official website shortly after his move to Sussex.
“Swedish clubs have a history of signing African players from ASEC Mimosas but no one has made such a big impact in such a short time as Malick did.
“He adapted very quickly at Goteborg. He reads the game so well, is quick off the mark, is very energetic, can go box-to-box, is an effective presser, has good close control, likes to take on his opponent, and has good technique.
“His time there [Goteborg] has been excellent. Nobody would have expected him to have such a big impact on the team and the league so fast. Sometimes when a player arrives from Africa, they take time to adapt, sometimes half a year or a year. But with Malick, it was just four or five games.
Bobby Wales (L) Malick Yalcouye (C) and Zeidane Inoussa of Swansea City
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
“He can be very creative and adapt quickly to how his team wants him to play. He may not be ready to start for Brighton right now, as the Premier League is a very physically demanding league so I think he will need to add more muscle, but I think he can be great for the club with time and patience.”
Exclusive: Graeme Bailey on Malick Yalcouye
Swansea play really, really good football. TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey tells us that they think the Swans move is perfect for his development.
He says: “We believe there’s been a lot of interest in him, and they’ve taken their time to find the right club. I think Swansea is the perfect place for this boy.
“They play good football, and it looks like he’s someone they feel could possibly help replace Baleba.”
Yalcouye’s strengths make him a perfect defensive or central midfielder. This makes him an ideal Baleba alternative if United came knocking.
Carlos Baleba of Brighton looks o during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal FC
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Manchester United to swoop in next season for Baleba?
It seems inevitable: Baleba is clearly the player the Red Devils envision at the heart of their midfield. United’s frivolous spending has meant they can’t afford much more this summer, but next year is a different story.
A midfield trio of Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Baleba would be the stuff of dreams – and United would be silly not to explore the deal.
The fee United would have to fork out for Baleba would be monumental, but for a player of his calibre, it may very well be worth it.