Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney was asked if the Red Devils should continue their pursuit of Brighton and Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Carlos Baleba has been subject to Manchester United’s fierce transfer interest amid Ineos’ pursuit of a new midfielder for Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim this summer.
The 21-year-old Cameroonian midfielder is under contract with Brighton until 2028 and it is believed that United have made enquiries about potentially signing Baleba.
However, Brighton are believed to be ready to fend off the Red Devils’ pursuit of Baleba, who has been a natural successor to Moises Caicedo for the Seagulls.
It has been reported that the Seagulls have no intention of selling the United-linked Baleba this summer and have slapped a £115m price tag on the midfield talent.
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Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney looks on prior to the Champions League match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in 2025 in Milan, Italy.
Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images
Wayne Rooney now reveals his stance on Carlos Baleba amid Man Utd being linked with the Brighton midfielder
Wayne Rooney has urged Manchester United to sign a new midfielder and raised his own concern about the lack of options in the middle of the park for the Red Devils.
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Ruben Amorim is believed to be keen on adding another defensive midfielder to his United first-team squad before the transfer window shuts on 1st September.
Bruno Fernandes has dropped into a deeper role in the midfield pivot of Amorim’s tactical system for United after the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Speaking after United’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, Rooney could not avoid the discussion around Brighton ace Carlos Baleba.
The 39-year-old United legend made it clear that Baleba would be the ideal signing for the Red Devils, but the club’s pursuit is limited due to their financial position.
“You would be [trying to sign Carlos Baleba], yeah,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“But obviously with PSR and all the financial fair play rules there, you know, we don’t know what situation Manchester United are in to try and do that.”
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Wayne Rooney’s key concerns extend beyond Man Utd’s transfer pursuit of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba
Rooney remained adamant that United must sign a new midfielder this summer, whether it is Cameroon international Baleba or another midfield talent entirely.
The ex-Red Devils and England striker insisted that a “priority” for his former club is to land both a midfielder and a shot-stopper for United manager Ruben Amorim.
“But I would for sure try and get a midfield player in there,” Rooney continued.
“I think a midfielder and [a] goalkeeper is a priority, and if they can address that before the window closes, then I think they’d be in an okay place.”
Following United’s Premier League loss to Arsenal, the Red Devils will resume their 2025-26 campaign on Sunday when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham.