MANCHESTER: Carlos Baleba is a dynamic midfielder who has proven himself in the Premier League and is among the targets Manchester United need.
The 2-4 defeat to AC Milan in Wroclaw last Saturday exposed the lack of energy and options in United’s midfield.
United have already tabled an opening bid of £65 million for the Brighton midfielder, who is reportedly keen on a move to Manchester and has agreed a five-year contract.
Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing and United are hopeful of reaching an agreement for the 22-year-old Cameroon international, who has been a long-term target for the club.
Brighton are open to selling Baleba for less than the £100 million price tag mentioned last summer.
United’s management is now tightening up the player recruitment process, thus ending the era of reckless big spending.
The club is also happy that this time they have managed to keep the transfer plans a secret from public attention.
Baleba’s arrival would increase United’s spending on midfielders to 150 million pounds this summer, meaning just 34 million pounds separates United’s spending on three midfielders from City’s one major signing, Elliot Anderson.
Their rivals Manchester City are seen as willing to make a bigger splash by approaching targets Ayyoub Bouaddi valued at 100 million pounds and Enzo Fernandez valued at 120 million pounds.
United have already spent a combined £85m on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, with chief executive Omar Berrada insisting market forces will not force them to make a panic move.
Baleba, who plays as a defensive midfielder, fits the profile of a powerful player missing from United’s squad, but an ankle injury sustained against Strasbourg has ruled the Brighton player out of action.
Santos has been considered Casemiro’s successor until now, but Baleba has 64 more Premier League appearances than him, making him more experienced despite both being the same age.
If the move becomes a reality, the injury recovery period of between two to three weeks means Baleba will need time to regain his playing sharpness.
His performances also declined last season when United began to show interest, with Baleba being sent off 15 times in Premier League games, including four times at half-time.
Brighton signed Baleba to become their central defender after Moises Caicedo moved to Chelsea for 115 million pounds in 2023.
He became the only midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues in the 2024-25 season to record at least 30 tackles, interceptions, clearances, passes and aerial challenges won.
United supporters had been pushing the club to sign Baleba for 100 million pounds last summer.
Baleba produced his best performance of the 2025-26 season when he helped Brighton beat Chelsea 3-0 in April, displaying athleticism, aggression and ball control skills.
Baleba’s playing profile largely resembles Casemiro’s, but he lacks the Brazilian’s instinct for making passing runs into the box and his threat of scoring from distance.
If he joins Michael Carrick’s squad, Baleba will most likely be paired with new player worth 35 million pounds, Tielemans.
Manuel Ugarte is sidelined for at least nine months after undergoing knee surgery following an injury sustained during the World Cup against Spain, while Mason Mount also missed the final two pre-season games.
Baleba once told SunSport in May 2025: “If I keep working hard, I can be like Luka Modric or Toni Kroos, I just have to stay humble.
“Declan Rice, Matheus Cunha and Joelinton, they all told me I had the ability. I want to win the Ballon d’Or like Rodri.
“His success paves the way for midfielders like us to believe that one day we too can win the Ballon d’Or.”