Manchester United were keen on signing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba during the summer transfer window, and the player was reportedly open to a move
Brighton star Carlos Baleba was reportedly ‘very open’ to a move to Manchester United even though the midfielder end up not completing a switch to Old Trafford. The Red Devils failed to secure a central midfielder during the transfer window, having been heavily linked with signing Baleba for the majority of the summer.
Brighton quickly made it clear that Baleba wasn’t on the market, placing a hefty £115million price tag on the Cameroon international, a figure they previously received from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo, reports the Manchester Evening News. United promptly informed their Premier League counterparts that they would not be pursuing the deal, but their interest in the midfielder hasn’t completely faded, even with the transfer window now shut.
Ruben Amorim’s squad decided to bide their time in their efforts to bolster their midfield with Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher mentioned as a potential target. United’s aspirations clearly involve securing a deal for Baleba in the future.
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The Athletic have reported that personal terms have already been agreed between Baleba and United in anticipation that a move could still happen in the future. Fabrizio Romano also suggests that the player remains a player of interest to United heading into 2026, and the club were pleased to discover that the Brighton star was keen on a move over the summer, despite the lack of European football on offer.
The 21-year-old was notably absent from Cameroon’s squad during their victory over Eswatini, a match that saw both Bryan Mbeumo and Andre Onana take to the pitch. Mbeumo, a £71million signing for United this summer, provided an assist in a 3-0 victory for his country.
It remains to be seen what United will have planned for their midfield revamp when the January transfer window opens. It seems unlikely that a move for Baleba could be possible in the middle of the season, and only time will tell if alternative targets emerge on the rumour mill between now and the New Year.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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