Manchester United remain determined to complete a major midfield rebuild with one more signing before the transfer window closes.
INEOS entered the summer with a clear objective of transforming the engine room into one of the strongest in the Premier League.
According to Sky Sports journalist Danyal Khan, United made movement recently in revisiting a potential move for Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.
Although formal negotiations have not yet begun, the Red Devils are seriously considering making a move for the highly rated Cameroon international.
United have already strengthened the midfield by securing the signings of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
INEOS must negotiate carefully
Baleba agreed personal terms with United and will not hesitate to join them if they can agree a deal with the Seagulls.
Brighton swiftly rejected an approach for the 22-year-old last summer. They wanted more than £100 million to sanction his sale.
Baleba endured a difficult 2025-26 campaign, with the uncertainty surrounding his future seemingly affecting his performances.
Despite that setback, he remains one of the most exciting young midfielders in England and possesses the potential to become one of the very best.
He is a dynamic midfielder with the physical strength to drive past opponents with ease. He wins possession aggressively and provides relentless energy both with and without the ball.
Revisiting the move makes perfect sense, but only if INEOS can negotiate a far more reasonable transfer fee.
Unlike other midfield targets such as Alex Scott or Mateus Fernandes, Baleba currently appears to have far less competition from rival clubs.
If United could secure his signature for somewhere between £60m and £70m, it would represent outstanding business for the club.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com