Man United Edges Closer to £60m-Plus Baleba Deal from Brighton

Manchester United is reportedly nearing an agreement to secure Brighton’s midfield maestro, Carlos Baleba, as the club intensifies efforts to bolster its squad for the upcoming season. The Old Trafford outfit had previously sought to acquire the Cameroonian international last summer, but Brighton’s hefty asking price, exceeding £100 million, proved a deterrent. Following a substantial reduction in Baleba’s valuation and an unsuccessful bid for Matheus Fernandes earlier this transfer window, United has renewed its interest in the midfielder. According to a BBC Sport dispatch on Wednesday, the Red Devils have tabled an initial offer of £60 million, a figure still short of Brighton’s desired price, but discussions are actively progressing.

This summer has already seen United reinforce its midfield with significant acquisitions: Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48 million and Youri Tielemans, who arrived from Aston Villa in July for £35 million. While Mason Mount showcased promising form alongside Santos in the initial three pre-season fixtures, he has since been hampered by a foot injury sustained during a match against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8. Similarly, Baleba is currently out of action, anticipated to be unavailable for an additional two to three weeks due to an ankle injury picked up during a pre-season training camp held in Austria.

Meanwhile, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler’s team is scheduled to depart for Norway on Wednesday, preparing for their UEFA Conference League play-off first-leg encounter against Tromso on Thursday. Last season, Baleba featured in 35 matches for Brighton, predominantly as a defensive midfielder, accumulating seven yellow cards. This renewed pursuit of Baleba appears logical for United, given their previous attempt to sign him a year ago, which indicates a thorough understanding of his capabilities.

Despite the recent additions of Santos and Tielemans, the Cameroonian international is seen as the quintessential box-to-box midfielder Manchester United currently lacks. Furthermore, Baleba himself is reportedly keen on the transfer. The anticipated final transfer fee is projected to be considerably less than the initial £100 million Brighton had sought. This decreased valuation, however, is partly attributed to his less impressive performance during the previous season. In the 2024-25 campaign, Baleba started 31 Premier League games and made three substitute appearances, a notable decrease from 23 starts and eight substitute appearances in 2025-26. These statistics underscore a dip in his impact and significance under Hurzeler, even as Brighton achieved European qualification for only the second time in their history that season. While there were whispers that United's interest had swayed Baleba, sources within Brighton last season dismissed such claims. As the transfer window draws to a close, United has now formally initiated their move. Manager Michael Carrick will be optimistic that the club can secure Baleba's peak 2024-25 form to inject more strength and dynamism into their midfield.