Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba could be available as Manchester United eye midfield reinforcements following Casemiro's forthcoming departure
Carlos Baleba of Brighton during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur
Carlos Baleba is a target for top clubs(Image: (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images))
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Manchester United are set to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday afternoon in what will be Michael Carrick's second match at the helm. The ex-United midfielder took charge ahead of the Manchester derby and led his side to a remarkable 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola's team.
Amidst the turmoil of the season on the pitch, there's plenty of drama off it as well. With just over a week left until the January transfer window closes, there's a lot of business to be done.
It was announced on Friday that Casemiro would be departing the club at the end of the season after four years in Manchester. In light of all this, the MEN provides an update on all the latest transfer news from Old Trafford.
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Carlos Baleba's price tag revealed
The Daily Mail has reported the price tag for Carlos Baleba, with Brighton reportedly expecting a fee in the region of £60-75million.
Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba could be heading to United(Image: Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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The south coast club is said to be interested in cashing in during the summer and would be open to selling if a suitable offer is made. Previously valued at around £100m, United lost interest last summer when informed of the price tag. However, they could now potentially sign him for £40m less.
Given that the midfielder is contracted to his current club until 2028, this significant reduction in price could be a savvy move if United maintain their interest. With Casemiro set to depart, he would make an ideal long-term replacement.
United legend Paul Scholes recently lauded the ex-Lille player on Sky Sports, stating: "He's come into the England set-up and looked very accomplished, very stylish."
Elliot Anderson 'makes decision'
It appears Elliot Anderson has made a decision on his next club. The I Paper reports that Adam Wharton and Baleba are now seen as more viable targets for United, given that Anderson seems to have his sights set on Manchester City.
Nottingham Forest's Anderson is one of the most coveted talents in the Premier League, with speculation about a move to a top-six club rife for some time.
City have reportedly dispatched scouts to observe Anderson on ten separate occasions, and should the 24-year-old join their ranks, Pep Guardiola's side would arguably be the strongest in the league on paper.
For United to stand any chance of securing Anderson, they must clinch a spot in next season's Champions League. Failure to do so will likely cement Anderson's preference for City.