Manchester United are ramping up their interest in Carlos Baleba again, but Brighton and Hove Albion are still expected to demand at least £70m for the midfielder. The renewed push comes after United were quoted about £100m for him 12 months ago, when they first made an enquiry.
That matters now because the new season is seven weeks away and United still need a physical presence in midfield after Casemiro left. Baleba, 22, has long been on their list and has apparently made it known that he wants to play for United, which only sharpens the pressure on any talks.
The numbers explain why the move keeps surfacing. In three years with the Seagulls, Baleba has scored four goals and made two assists in all competitions. Casemiro, by contrast, produced 16 goals and six assists over the same span, which is part of why United also want a midfielder who can bring more than energy and ball recovery.
Brighton, though, have already shown they can resist a long chase. They fought off United’s interest before, and their stance has not softened: they want as much as possible from any deal and would not go below £70m in any event. That is a long way from the £100m figure United were given a year ago, but it is still a fee that forces a serious decision rather than a casual enquiry.
United have also been linked with Mateus Fernandes as they shape their midfield plans, and they passed on a bidding war because they felt he was overpriced. The same logic will now be tested against Baleba. If United believe he is the Casemiro replacement they need, they will have to decide quickly whether to move from interest to an offer before pre-season games begin and the window narrows.
