Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion are closing in on a deal for Carlos Baleba after United offered around £60million plus £5million in add-ons for the 22-year-old Cameroon international. The fee is still short of what Brighton would want to sell, but the gap has narrowed enough for the clubs to be described as moving toward an agreement.
That is why Baleba is being searched now. He is recovering from an ankle ligament injury, though it is not expected to keep him out for long, and his name has returned to the centre of United's midfield plans at the same time as the club pushes to strengthen that area. United had already worked on a move for him last summer and remained interested after monitoring him during the Africa Cup of Nations, where he was watched alongside Bryan Mbeumo.
Baleba has built a strong case for the move. He joined Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023 and has played 112 times for the club, including 35 appearances last season. United rate his ground coverage, ball-winning and passing as a fit for their squad, and his left foot also gives him an option at left-back if needed. That versatility matters because midfield has become a priority, with Michael Carrick already weighing first-team options such as Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes.
There is still a catch. United's offer is below Brighton's expected selling price, which means the clubs are close without being done. Brighton have been here before with Baleba, having wanted more than £100million for him last summer, while United would previously have been prepared to go to £75million. Since then, the balance has shifted, not least because he was substituted off in 15 Premier League games last season, taken off at half-time in four, and completed 90 minutes only three times.
Even so, his best moments have kept the interest alive. He played well in Brighton's 3-0 win over Chelsea, winning the ball in the penalty box from Robert Sanchez to set up Jack Hinshelwood for a big chance, and then started the next three matches before coming off the bench against Manchester United on the final day. If Brighton accept the offer, United would finally land a midfielder they have tracked across two summers; if they do not, the chase that has already stretched from last year into this one will remain unresolved.
