Manchester United Pursue £60m Carlos Baleba Deal Amid Midfield Overhaul
Manchester United are pushing hard to make Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba the latest piece in their summer overhaul, with talks between the clubs described as positive and edging towards agreement.
United have lodged an opening bid worth around £60 million (€70m) plus a further £5m in potential add-ons, according to The Athletic. Brighton believe that figure still sits short of their valuation, but there is no sense of a breakdown. Negotiations are described as amicable, with both sides working towards a fee that suits all parties.
United’s Midfield Overhaul
United’s intent in midfield has been clear all summer. Baleba is not the first name on their list, just the latest.
Youri Tielemans has already arrived from Aston Villa, bringing Premier League know-how and passing range. Andrey Santos has come in from Chelsea as a younger, more developmental option. Earlier in the window, United thought they had another key piece secured when they agreed a deal with Atalanta for Ederson, only to walk away over concerns about the Brazilian’s knee.
They then turned to Elliot Anderson, only to see the England international choose the blue side of Manchester and sign for Manchester City instead. Each twist has sharpened United’s focus on getting the next one right.
Injuries have only raised the stakes. Manuel Ugarte picked up an injury on World Cup duty with Uruguay, while Mason Mount missed United’s final two pre-season fixtures. The absences have underlined just how thin Carrick’s options could look if reinforcements do not arrive in time.
Brighton’s Reluctant Seller
Baleba is not a player Brighton ever expected to move on cheaply or easily. Signed from Lille in the summer of 2023, he has quickly become a central figure on the south coast.
The 22-year-old has already made 112 appearances for Brighton in all competitions, a striking number for a player of his age. Last season alone he featured 35 times, his rhythm interrupted only briefly by his call-up for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Brighton know what they have: a powerful, athletic midfielder with resale value and room to grow. That is why they have pushed back on United’s opening proposal, even as the dialogue has stayed constructive.
What Baleba Would Walk Into
If United get this over the line, Baleba will step into a crowded but evolving engine room.
Carrick would have Baleba competing with Tielemans, Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes for minutes. It is a blend of youth, experience, creativity and energy, and the club see the Cameroonian as someone who can anchor that mix for years rather than months.
The timing matters. With pre-season now wrapped up and competitive fixtures fast approaching, United want the deal done quickly enough for Baleba to integrate into Carrick’s system, learn the patterns, and build chemistry before the season settles into its relentless rhythm.
Talks Ongoing, Confidence High
For now, the deal sits in that familiar transfer-window space: not done, not dead, but alive and moving.
United and Brighton remain in active contact, working to close the gap in valuation. There is confidence on all sides that a compromise can be found. If it is, Baleba will trade the south coast for Old Trafford and join a United midfield being rebuilt at speed.
The question now is not whether United are serious. It is whether Brighton’s resolve bends in time for Baleba to line up in red when the real games start.
