Manchester United Pursue Brighton Midfielder Carlos Baleba

Manchester United are closing in on a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with talks between the clubs described as smooth and constructive as they edge towards a full agreement for the 22-year-old.

United have lodged an opening bid worth around £60 million (€70m), with a further £5m tied to performance-related add-ons, according to The Athletic. Brighton believe that figure still sits short of their valuation, but the tone of the negotiations remains upbeat and there is no sense of a breakdown on the horizon.

United’s midfield rebuild gathers pace

This has been the summer of the midfield at Old Trafford. United’s recruitment team identified the engine room as the priority area months ago and have already brought in Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea to reshape the core of Michael Carrick’s side.

A deal for Atalanta’s Ederson was previously in place, only for United to walk away once knee injury concerns emerged. They then pushed hard for Elliot Anderson, but the England international chose the blue half of Manchester instead, joining rivals Manchester City.

Injuries have only sharpened United’s urgency. Manuel Ugarte picked up a problem while on World Cup duty with Uruguay, while Mason Mount missed the final two games of pre-season, leaving Carrick short of options just as competitive fixtures loom.

Brighton’s rising asset

Baleba has developed into one of Brighton’s most important players since arriving from Lille in the summer of 2023. The midfielder has already racked up 112 appearances across all competitions for the south-coast club, underlining just how heavily he has been relied upon.

Last season alone he featured 35 times for the Seagulls, his rhythm interrupted only briefly when he joined up with Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations. His blend of energy, athleticism and bite in midfield has made him a prized asset, and Brighton’s stance in negotiations reflects that.

Carrick’s new-look midfield taking shape

If United can push the transfer over the line, Baleba will walk into a fiercely competitive midfield group. He would be vying for minutes alongside Tielemans, Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and captain Bruno Fernandes in Carrick’s evolving system.

United want the deal wrapped up quickly. With pre-season in the books and the real stuff about to start, the club are keen to give Baleba as much time as possible to adapt, settle and absorb Carrick’s demands before the campaign kicks into full speed.

Talks between United and Brighton remain active and positive as both sides work towards a final fee structure. All parties are confident a compromise will be found, clearing the runway for Baleba to swap the south coast for Old Trafford and step into the heart of United’s next midfield era.