Manchester United is reportedly nearing an agreement to acquire midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton. This move comes after United‘s previous attempt to sign the Cameroon international last summer, which was hindered by Brighton‘s valuation at the time.
Initial reports indicated Brighton sought over £100m for Baleba last summer. However, the asking price has since reduced. Following an unsuccessful pursuit of Matheus Fernandes earlier this summer, United has revisited their interest in Baleba. Their current offer of £60m is below Brighton‘s valuation, but discussions are ongoing.
United’s Midfield Reinforcements
Manchester United has already strengthened its midfield this transfer window. The club secured Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m and Youri Tielemans, who joined from Aston Villa in July for £35m. Mason Mount, another midfielder, has been dealing with a foot problem sustained on 8 August against Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg.
Baleba himself is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury suffered during a pre-season training camp in Austria. He is expected to be out for another two to three weeks. Despite this, United appears keen to finalize the deal as the transfer deadline approaches.
Last season, Baleba made 35 appearances for Brighton, primarily as a defensive midfielder, and received seven yellow cards. His form in the 2024-25 season saw him make 31 starts and three substitute appearances in the Premier League. This decreased to 23 starts and eight substitute appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, a season where Brighton secured European football for only the second time in their history.
Tactical Implications for United
The potential acquisition of Baleba is seen as a strategic move for Manchester United. The club previously attempted to sign him, indicating a long-standing awareness of his capabilities. He is described as a box-to-box player, a type of midfielder United reportedly lacks despite the recent arrivals of Santos and Tielemans.
United‘s initial transfer strategy this window focused on technical midfielders like Andres Santos and Youri Tielemans, who are adept at playing in confined spaces, rotating, and connecting under pressure. This approach, according to analysis, might be inspired by PSG‘s midfield trio, which manager Michael Carrick has referenced for their enjoyable style of play.
Baleba‘s potential introduction would offer a different dynamic to the squad. His ability to carry the ball over significant distances could be beneficial in exploiting situations where opponents are drawn onto United‘s technical midfielders, creating space higher up the pitch. Defensively, his athleticism is noted for providing cover, compensating for a relative lack of physicality among his potential midfield partners who thrive in smaller areas.
His capacity to track back quickly could help protect against counter-attacks. Furthermore, Baleba‘s skill in reading the game and pressing opponents high up the pitch has often led to his teams winning the ball close to the opposition’s box, potentially resulting in goal-scoring opportunities. This aligns with the high-press tactics Carrick has employed during pre-season. Should United find themselves defending deep, Baleba‘s defensive intensity, including his tackling and closing down, could help replace qualities lost following Casemiro‘s departure.
Brighton’s European Fixture
Meanwhile, Brighton‘s squad, under manager Fabian Hurzeler, is preparing for their upcoming Uefa Conference League play-off first-leg match. The team is scheduled to fly to Norway on Wednesday for Thursday’s fixture against Tromso.
Separately, Arsenal is actively looking to manage their squad before the transfer window closes. The club is reportedly seeking loan offers for teenager Ethan Nwaneri, an academy graduate who was not included in the matchday squad for the Community Shield victory over Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal acknowledges that Nwaneri would benefit from regular senior football. Other players Arsenal is reportedly open to selling include Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Fabio Vieira.
Source: bbc.co.uk