- Manchester United are still pursuing Carlos Baleba
- Cameroonian has been in poor form this season
- Could cost up to £100 million
Carlos Baleba looks set to attract renewed interest from Manchester United this summer, with the Cameroonian’s dip in form failing to dampen his allure.
With Casemiro departing on 30 June, United are on the hunt for a defensive midfielder who combines steel with intelligence. A player who can read the game, intercept danger, and cover the mistakes of teammates.
Yet, as with many of United’s marquee targets, Baleba comes with a hefty price tag. Despite a patchy season compared to his breakout campaign, the 20-year-old could command somewhere in the £80–100 million range, per SunSport.
If the fee climbs to £90 million or beyond, Manchester United would shatter their all-time transfer record.
Baleba sits among a glittering shortlist United will pursue when the transfer window opens on 15 June. Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Joao Gomes, and Adam Wharton all feature prominently in the club’s plans, highlighting a summer campaign poised for ambition and audacity.
Baleba’s Dilemma: To Bid or Not to Bid
Manchester United are searching for a midfielder who can retain possession, impose himself defensively, and dominate off the ball.
In the 2024/25 season, Baleba ticked all three of these boxes. Even now, a year on from his breakout campaign, his defensive attributes have actually improved.
But his all-around game has faltered, and many people have noted it.
| Baleba – 2024/25 | Baleba – 2025/26 |
| Interceptions per game – 1.4 | Interceptions per game – 1 |
| Tackles per game – 2.3 | Tackles per game – 1.1 |
| Balls recovered per game – 5.8 | Balls recovered per game – 3 |
| Clearances per game – 1.3 | Clearances per game – 0.9 |
| Errors leading to shot – 1 | Errors leading to shot – 4 |
| Ground + aerial duels won per game – 5.8 | Ground + aerial duels won per game – 2.8 |
Simply speaking, Baleba’s form has dropped off a cliff. Since being linked with a club of Manchester United’s stature, he has seemed torn—half his focus on United, the other half on his performances at Brighton.
Yet if a player cannot handle the expectation of joining one of the historic sides that dine with Europe’s elite, how will he cope with the relentless pressure of actually playing for the club?
Old Trafford is a pressure cooker where history weighs heavily. Players can crack under the expectation.
Former midfielder Angel Gomes reflected on that burden in an interview with BBC Sport last year:
“Players may have been intimidated or not really known about the weight, what it carries and what it takes,” Gomes said. But ultimately, sometimes, it’s down to environment, timing and having the right things in place to help you.”
“Some players who have left and gone on to do better than when they were at United, there might be things in place at that certain club, at that moment in time, that helped them succeed.
“Sometimes it’s not as black and white as they failed or they’ve not held their own there because of the weight of the shirt.”
Gomes hasn’t quite reached Baleba’s level, especially in terms of interest in his services. The Cameroonian will realise the step-up and the pressure that comes with it should he arrive at the Theatre of Dreams.
Too Much for United
Whilst United would not be paying £100m for Baleba—that price-tag is simply too rich for Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox’s blood—it is likely he will still fetch somewhere within the £80m mark.
Not only has his form dipped, but his influence on the pitch has been sharply curtailed.
He has logged just 1,288 minutes in the league this season—a monumental drop from the 2,673 he amassed last year.
Admittedly, he missed five matches for the African Cup of Nations, yet even if he had played every minute of those fixtures, plus the seven remaining 90-minute league matches, he would still fall more than 300 minutes short of last season’s output.
Whilst there is undoubtedly an amazing player in Baleba, an £80m bid may be too much of a risk for Manchester United to take.
