Manchester United Shift Focus to Baleba After Tonali Block

Manchester United have run into a brick wall in their pursuit of Sandro Tonali – and it has forced a sharp change of direction in their midfield rebuild.

Newcastle United, according to GiveMeSport, have made their position brutally clear: Tonali is not for sale. Not to anyone, and certainly not to a direct rival.

For United, that’s a serious blow. The Italy international ticks almost every box they want in the heart of midfield – technical quality, energy, control, and the sort of reliability that allows a team to build a structure around him. At St James’ Park, he’s seen as central to Newcastle’s long-term project, not a tradeable asset.

Newcastle’s stance doesn’t just close the door; it bolts it. Any bid high enough to even make them pause would soar well beyond what United are prepared to spend on a single midfield position this summer. On top of that, there is a clear reluctance on Tyneside to hand a key player to a club they intend to compete with for European places and trophies.

So United have had to pivot. Quickly.

Baleba Steps to the Front

With Tonali effectively out of reach, focus inside Old Trafford has swung firmly towards Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.

United have already moved decisively on one front. The club are understood to have agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old, with an outline in place since August 2025. The groundwork has been laid for some time: Baleba has been tracked closely by United’s recruitment staff, who view him as a long-term anchor in defensive midfield.

Internally, he is seen as a potential heir to Casemiro. The Brazilian is set to leave on a free transfer this summer, and United cannot afford a vacuum in that part of the pitch. Baleba offers Premier League experience, physical presence and a profile that fits a younger, more sustainable core.

That domestic experience matters. United are wary of committing huge fees to players untested in English football. Baleba has already absorbed Brighton’s high-intensity, possession-based demands, and that reduces the element of risk.

There is, however, a familiar problem. Brighton do not sell cheaply.

Baleba is under contract until 2028, and the Seagulls are said to be demanding up to £80 million. For a player seen as a cornerstone signing, that number is steep but not outrageous in the current market. Still, it places serious pressure on United’s budget, especially with multiple areas of the squad needing attention.

A Crowded Shortlist

Baleba may be the leading name, but he is not the only one.

United’s recruitment team are working through a list of midfield options as they try to reshape the squad and address uncertainty around Manuel Ugarte’s future at Old Trafford. The Uruguay international’s situation remains unresolved, leaving United to plan for several scenarios.

Atalanta’s Ederson has been on their radar since last summer. The Brazilian’s contract with the Italian club runs until June 2027, and Atalanta are understood to want around €45 million. That fee, more modest than Brighton’s valuation of Baleba, makes him an intriguing alternative: proven in Serie A, robust, and available at a price that offers some room for manoeuvre elsewhere in the squad.

Closer to home, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton are also being monitored. Both fit the profile of young, homegrown midfielders who could grow into major roles over time. United are continuing to weigh their options carefully, aware that one wrong move in midfield can set a project back years.

Hard Bargains on the South Coast

For now, though, the spotlight sits on Brighton.

With personal terms reportedly in place, United must now deal with a club renowned for extracting maximum value from their assets. Brighton have turned tough negotiation into an art form, and they will not soften simply because United want to move quickly.

Talks are expected to be complex. Brighton know United are under pressure to strengthen before the new season, particularly in the engine room. United, for their part, cannot afford to be held to ransom, yet they also know that walking away from Baleba would send them back to square one after months of planning.

Tonali looks locked away behind Newcastle’s resolve. That reality leaves Baleba as one of the defining targets of United’s summer – a deal that could shape the team’s identity for years, or expose how far they still have to go in the modern transfer market.