Manchester United have been handed a timely reminder to reassess their transfer strategy for 2026.
Man United are desperate to sign a marquee midfielder to address glaring issues in their squad.
The Red Devils tested the waters with an approach for Brighton & Hove Albion talent Carlos Baleba earlier this summer.
However, the Seagulls immediately shut the door, insisting Baleba would stay for at least another season.
It was also suggested Brighton would demand a minimum of £100 million before even considering his exit.
Baleba has endured a tough 2025-26 season and he delivered another worrying performance against Brentford on Saturday.
The 21-year-old suffered a moment of sheer madness around the half-hour mark, lunging into a reckless sliding challenge inside the penalty area.
The referee needed no second invitation to award the spot-kick.
Baleba completed only 78% of his passes before Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler took him off at the break.
It was not even the first time this season he had been withdrawn at the interval after a poor showing.
Baleba repeatedly lost his grip on the game, surrendering possession eight times, failing to register a single tackle, and losing all four of his ground duels.
Numbers like these should force United to think twice before revisiting Baleba, at least until he rediscovers confidence and form.
Raw talent alone would not guarantee success under the lights at the Theatre of Dreams.
Mental resilience is just as crucial and it is an area where many promising players have crumbled.
Paying £100 million for a midfielder who appears rattled by transfer speculation is a gamble United simply cannot afford.
In contrast, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are emerging as far more reliable and composed options.
Stats from Sofascore.com