Manchester United could resume their chase of Carlos Baleba in 2026 after they chose not to proceed with the move this summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are set to return for Carlos Baleba in 2026. The Red Devils were pushing to get a deal in place for the Cameroonian midfielder this summer, but chose to proceed against the move owing to multiple factors; they are now likely to target him again next year.
Manchester United chose to make a calculated decision to back away from the Carlos Baleba chase in the last few days. Having pursued the midfielder since the signing of striker Benjamin Sesko, the cost associated with the move may have proved prohibitive this summer.
Brighton & Hove Albion were uninterested in selling Baleba, which may have been the biggest factor in Manchester United backing out of the race. The Red Devils were prepared to pay big if needed, with suggestions that the Seagulls were angling for a British record sale if they were to let the midfielder leave.
Carlos Baleba was open to joining Manchester United, but he did not force a move through, nor did he hand in a transfer request of any sort to Brighton. The Premier League mainstays will be the happiest of the lot in this saga, as Fabian Hurzeler will have the 21-year-old midfield powerhouse in his setup for the season.
However, Manchester United are now set to return for Baleba in 2026, most likely next summer rather than in January. The Red Devils have already earmarked a few alternatives, such as Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton and Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand, although David Ornstein via NBC Sports has suggested that moves for either player looks unlikely this summer.
Manchester United will face competition for Carlos Baleba in 2026
As Manchester United pursued Baleba, their neighbors, Manchester City, were left surprised by it. Pep Guardiola views the 21-year-old midfield powerhouse as a key addition to his squad next summer. Hence, the Red Devils are set to face competition for the midfielder, especially from their cross-city rivals.
The Red Devils may have an upper hand when it comes to the groundwork on Carlos Baleba, as they may have had multiple conversations with the player and his camp. For now, Manchester United might be viewed as the front-runners in the race to sign the Cameroonian international, although there is no denying that many other top rivals will come in for the 21-year-old next summer.