Manchester United Close In on Carlos Baleba as Brighton's Price Drops
Manchester United are closing in on a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with talks between the two clubs now at an advanced stage (Sky Sports; BBC Sport).
United's opening offer stands at around £60 million plus a further £5 million in add-ons — roughly €70 million ($81 million) for the base fee, according to The Athletic. That figure falls short of Brighton's valuation, but negotiations are ongoing and the gap between the two sides has narrowed considerably since last summer, when Brighton wanted in excess of £100 million and United walked away.
The 22-year-old Cameroonian is a defensive midfielder — the player who sits deepest in midfield, winning the ball back and shielding the defence. He made 35 appearances for Brighton last season, picking up seven yellow cards along the way, which tells you the combative edge he brings to the role.
United have tried for Baleba before. They pursued him near last summer's deadline day but were put off by Brighton's asking price, which at the time was simply too steep. A January move was also explored and deemed unlikely, per Sky Sports. What changed is twofold: Brighton's price has come down, and United's primary midfield target this summer, Matheus Fernandes, fell through — sending them back to a name they already knew well.
Baleba has reportedly discussed the possibility of joining United with some of the club's players, according to Sky Sports, suggesting the player is open to the switch.
He is not the only midfield arrival United are working on this summer. The club have already signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48 million and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa in July for £35 million. Adding Baleba would give United's midfield a significant overhaul — three new arrivals for a position group that badly needed refreshing.
One complication: Baleba injured an ankle ligament during pre-season and is expected to miss another two to three weeks, per BBC Sport. He is one of three Brighton players — along with Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson — expected to miss the start of the season through injury, The Athletic reports. So even if the deal goes through quickly, Baleba will not be available immediately.
For fans, this is a deal that has been a long time coming. United have circled Baleba for the better part of a year, and Brighton's willingness to lower their price — a figure Sky Sports previously pegged at around £105 million — suggests the south coast club are finally ready to do business. Whether United can find the extra millions to bridge the remaining gap will determine whether this long pursuit ends with a signature or another summer of what-ifs.
