Manchester United’s hunt for a new midfield general has taken an interesting turn.
The Red Devils remain locked in talks with Brighton over Carlos Baleba, despite seeing their opening offer — which included young midfielder Toby Collyer — turned down, as per The Standard.
Brighton’s asking price is reportedly north of £100 million, close to the figure Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023. Yet, United are said to be encouraged.
Why? The Seagulls already seem to have their succession plan in place.
Baleba, 21, has missed Brighton’s last three pre-season games, with reports linking his absence to a knee injury.
He was spotted with the squad during their behind-closed-doors match against Wolfsburg, but speculation around his future continues to swirl.
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Why Man Utd wants to sign Carlos Baleba?
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United’s midfield needs a fresh spark. Having spent over £200 million on their new-look attack, attention has shifted to the engine room.
Baleba’s style — strong in the tackle, comfortable on the ball, and able to cover ground quickly — makes him an ideal fit for a team looking to dominate possession and win midfield battles.
Brighton have made a habit of developing and selling top-class midfielders, from Yves Bissouma to Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister. Baleba appears to be the next big name in that line.
His physicality and reading of the game have caught the eye of United’s recruitment team, who believe he could anchor the midfield for years.
The good news for United is that Brighton may feel ready to cash in, given the depth in their squad.
Prospects like Diego Gomez and Malick Yalcouye have already impressed, while Jack Hinshelwood, Mats Wieffer, Matt O’Riley and Yasin Ayari are pushing for more minutes.
For now, the price tag remains the big challenge. But in transfer football, as fans know well, the game isn’t over until the window shuts. United’s midfield rebuild may yet have its marquee signing.
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