Manchester United are already looking ahead to the summer transfer window when the club will hire a long-term manager and use the market to completely overhaul the midfield
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United with Omar Berrada, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Football Jason Wilcox
Manchester United's hierarchy want to overhaul their midfield in the summer(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United are reportedly growing more and more confident that they will be able to prise Carlos Baleba away from Brighton in the summer transfer window. United have been long-term admirers of Baleba and believe their chances are increasing.
United have made little secret of their interest in the Cameroon international, who was one of their primary targets before the 2025/26 season began. Brighton held firm in the summer, quoting a price north of £100million, with the £115m they landed from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo setting the bar high.
The Seagulls have continued to insist publicly that Baleba is not for sale, but United are still monitoring the 22-year-old midfielder. And they have been given hope that a deal can be struck in the upcoming off-season, partly due to a gradual decline in his performances for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
The Sun reports that United are ‘increasingly confident’ of getting their man this summer, with an overhaul of midfield in the works. Baleba is under contract with Brighton until June 2028, but the club have shown time and again that they are willing to do business because they back their recruitment system to find a replacement.
Baleba may not be the only arrival at Old Trafford in the summer, too, with United hoping to sign more than one central midfielder. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott are also being monitored.
Casemiro is expected to leave United upon the expiry of his contract in June, while there are growing concerns about the future of Bruno Fernandes following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo has been unsettled this season amid interest from Napoli.
United are currently being managed by Michael Carrick but will appoint a long-term successor to Amorim in the summer. While the identity of their new boss and their tactical outlook will shape their transfer plans, the hierarchy have already started work on targets for what will be a hugely important summer.
Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion
Carlos Baleba could leave Brighton in the summer(Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
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Brighton have shown themselves to be tough negotiators, driving hard bargains for their star players previously, and deputy chairman Paul Barber recently set out their stance. “[We’ve had] no call from Old Trafford, no call from anyone connected to Manchester United,” he said this month.
“We have no plans or desire to sell Carlos Baleba in this window or any future window. We know he’s a talented player and I am sure he’s got a lot of options ahead of him in the future. For us he’s an important player in the second half of the season and we’re looking forward to having back from AFCON.”
Meanwhile, Brighton chairman Tony Bloom told The Argus in October: “I don’t think Baleba was a saga. There was interest from Manchester United, and we said that he wasn’t available this summer and they went away.”
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