Manchester United have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Carlos Baleba in a deal worth around £70million, with the midfielder now set to complete the final stages of his move to Old Trafford.
Fabrizio Romano has given the transfer his trademark “here we go”, confirming the breakthrough after United stepped up negotiations with Brighton this week.
talkSPORT reports that United and Brighton have agreed a £70m deal, with the Seagulls also securing a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.
Baleba had already agreed personal terms with United and is now expected to complete his medical before putting pen to paper on his contract.
Carlos Baleba to Man Utd after £70m agreement
The breakthrough completes a remarkable turnaround in a transfer pursuit which appeared unlikely to happen earlier in the summer.
ReadManUtd reported in July that United had decided against pursuing Baleba because of Brighton’s valuation.
Their position subsequently changed as Michael Carrick continued looking for another midfielder.
United reopened the pursuit and negotiations accelerated dramatically this week, with Sky Sports reporting that Baleba was preparing to travel to Manchester as the two clubs moved closer to a full agreement.
The 22-year-old had also made his desire to join United clear during the process.
It represents significant progression from earlier in the summer, when ReadManUtd reported that Baleba remained keen on an Old Trafford move despite United’s interest cooling.
Now the agreement is finally in place.
Baleba addresses major Man Utd midfield weakness
Baleba’s arrival would complete a substantial transformation of Carrick’s midfield following the additions of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.
United had already invested heavily in the position, but ReadManUtd recently analysed why their £85m midfield rebuild still contained one glaring weakness.
Baleba provides precisely the type of athletic profile United were still missing.
The Cameroon international can cover large areas defensively, recover possession and drive forward with the ball, offering Carrick qualities which are not replicated exactly by Tielemans, Santos or Kobbie Mainoo.
His arrival also underlines how aggressively United have reshaped the squad following last season’s third-place Premier League finish.
Baleba will not immediately be available to Carrick while he completes his recovery from an ankle problem, but the immediate priority is now completing the remaining formalities of the transfer.
After more than a year of United interest, one of the club’s longest-running midfield pursuits is finally approaching its conclusion.
