Manchester United continue to be linked with a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in 2026.
Strengthening in midfield will be Manchester United’s top priority in 2026 after failing to do so in the summer.
United were prepared to bid for Carlos Baleba in the summer after showing interest in the 21-year-old, but Brighton’s asking price of around £100 million was deemed unrealistic by Ineos.
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Other midfield targets have since been added to the shortlist including Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, but Carlos Baleba remains on United’s radar too.
Baleba failed to impress against United, and his entire season so far has been worryingly underwhelming.
Carlos Baleba plays for Brighton in August 2025
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Carlos Baleba struggling to handle transfer ‘pressure’
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler admitted that Baleba has been impacted by United links, and he has still only played one full 90-minute match in the Premier League this season.
In fact, Baleba is averaging the fewest minutes of any Premier League player who has started in 10 matches.
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In Brighton’s 2-0 defeat to Brighton this weekend, Baleba was again taken off after the hour mark after failing to impress against Liverpool.
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Manager Ruben Amorim arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in 2025 in London, England.
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After the match, he opened up about the “pressure” of being linked to United.
Speaking to Sky Sports after full-time, Baleba said: “I don’t think it affected me negatively, but I had a lot of pressure on me.
“When I started this season, I wanted to show the same performances as last season.”
Carlos Baleba would be under immense pressure at Man United
If Baleba is already struggling under pressure at Brighton, that should ring alarm bells for Ruben Amorim and Ineos.
Baleba is expected to cost £73m in 2026 and such a significant price tag will come with huge pressure to perform at Old Trafford.
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A big price tag means Baleba will hardly be afforded any time to settle in. He’d be expected to hit the ground running, and his form this season should be a major concern.
Amorim has introduced a new transfer rule at United to put more focus on a player’s attitude and character as well as just their talent. If Baleba is not yet ready to handle the spotlight at United, Ineos must look elsewhere.
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