- Manchetser United look to improve midfield
- Carlos Baleba still linked
- United tried to purchase the star last summer
Manchester United are still looking to bolster their midfield ahead of next summer with the possible inclusion of 22-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.
The Red Devils have tracked the Cameroonian midfielder for well over a year now, with strong links between player and club already emerging last summer.
Brighton originally demanded at least £115 million for Baleba, the same fee Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023. United refused to stretch that far after already spending more than £200m on Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha during an expensive rebuild.
Since those rumours first surfaced, however, Baleba’s head appears to have turned slightly, and the midfielder has struggled at times under the weight of expectation and pressure.
United now only value the midfielder around the £50m mark, but with notoriously difficult negotiator Tony Bloom running Brighton behind the scenes, any potential deal still looks far from straightforward.
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Baleba Hints at United Move
Posting on Instagram following Brighton’s 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, some supporters believe Baleba may already have hinted at a move to Old Trafford.
The midfielder captioned his post: ‘It’s better that it takes longer than it never happening [sunglasses emoji]’’
He also included the hashtag ‘#areyouabaleba,’ a phrase heavily linked with Manchester United supporters throughout last summer’s transfer speculation.
Fans quickly picked up on the wording. One supporter wrote:
“That second hashtag gives the clue best. He wants the move so bad!”
Another fan also focused on the hashtags, believing Baleba had subtly signalled his desire to leave Brighton for United.
“Of course it is [in reference to Baleba leaving] look at the hashtags”
One supporter even suggested United may already have spoken to the player privately.
“United must’ve promised him they will sign him this summer.”
Another fan pointed directly towards Baleba’s apparent desire to join the club, contrasting it with previous signings.
“This is a player who is genuinely itching to come to Man United and give his all. You can sense that he’s willing to come here & perform. Unlike lazy golddiggers we signed in the past.”
Are Man Utd a Baleba?
With Casemiro departing the club when his contract expires on 30 June, and Manuel Ugarte also likely to leave if United can secure a suitable buyer, it leaves a massive void in defensive midfield.
Elliot Anderson remains the dream target. The energetic, tenacious box-to-box midfielder looks tailor-made for Old Trafford, but currently appears to favour a move to Manchester City instead.
United have also monitored a long list of alternatives, including Sandro Tonali, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adam Wharton, and several others.
But Baleba remains high on the shortlist. The biggest concern surrounds his performances this season.
If transfer speculation alone has already affected his consistency at Brighton, questions naturally emerge over how he would cope under the relentless pressure that comes with wearing a Manchester United shirt.
And that drop-off has become increasingly noticeable. Still, if United could secure Baleba for somewhere between £40m and £60m, the deal would suddenly become far more attractive—and potentially far less risky than it once looked.
