Manchester United Near £60m Deal for Carlos Baleba
Manchester United are moving towards a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with talks between the clubs described as amicable and progressing as both sides work to nail down a final fee for the 22-year-old.
United have lodged an opening offer worth around £60 million (€70m), with a further £5m in potential add-ons, according to The Athletic. Brighton believe that proposal falls short of their valuation, but the tone of negotiations remains positive rather than confrontational, with neither side walking away from the table.
United’s midfield overhaul
Reinforcing the middle of the pitch has dominated United’s summer. The club have already brought in Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea as part of a broader reshaping of Michael Carrick’s options.
A deal for Atalanta’s Ederson had been agreed earlier in the window, only for United to pull back over concerns about a knee problem. They then pushed hard for Elliot Anderson, but the England international chose a move to rivals Manchester City instead, a setback that sharpened the need to land their next target.
Injuries have only added urgency. Manuel Ugarte picked up an injury while on World Cup duty with Uruguay, and Mason Mount missed United’s final two pre-season fixtures, leaving Carrick short of reliable bodies just as competitive games loom.
Baleba’s rise at Brighton
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023 and has quickly grown into a central figure on the south coast. He has already racked up 112 appearances in all competitions for the Seagulls, a remarkable workload for a player of his age.
Last season alone he featured 35 times, his rhythm interrupted only briefly by his involvement with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. His blend of energy, physicality and composure has made him one of Brighton’s most valuable assets and explains their reluctance to accept anything below their price.
Fitting into Carrick’s plans
Should the transfer go through, Baleba would drop straight into a competitive midfield group at Old Trafford. He would be vying for minutes alongside Tielemans, Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and captain Bruno Fernandes, giving Carrick a far deeper and more varied set of options than he had last season.
United want the deal wrapped up quickly. With pre-season now over and the first meaningful fixtures on the horizon, the club are keen to have the Cameroonian in the building as soon as possible so he can adapt to Carrick’s demands and the rhythm of the squad.
Talks between United and Brighton remain active and constructive, with both clubs working towards an agreement on the final valuation. All sides are confident a deal will be struck, leaving Baleba on the brink of a move that could reshape United’s midfield for years to come.
