Manchester United are in discussions to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, having renewed their pursuit of the Cameroon international.
United previously attempted to sign Baleba 12 months ago and are aware of his capabilities. The club identifies him as a box-to-box midfielder, a profile they currently lack despite recent acquisitions. Baleba is reportedly open to the move, and the potential transfer fee is expected to be significantly lower than the previous valuation of £100 million.
This reduction in price is attributed to Baleba's inconsistent form for Brighton during the 2025-26 season. He made 23 starts and eight substitute appearances in the Premier League that campaign, a decrease from 31 starts and three substitute appearances in 2024-25. This dip in performance occurred during a season when Brighton achieved European football for the second time in their history. While some speculated that United's prior interest may have affected his performance, Brighton sources had previously dismissed this notion.
With the transfer deadline approaching, Manchester United has made a formal move to secure the midfielder. The club's management will be hoping that manager Carrick can elicit the form Baleba displayed in the 2024-25 season.