Manchester United Nears Deal for Midfielder Carlos Baleba
Manchester United are edging towards a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with talks between the clubs described as amicable and progressing as both sides work to nail down a final fee for the 22-year-old.
United have lodged an opening offer in the region of £60 million (€70m), with a further £5m tied to potential add-ons, according to The Athletic. Brighton, true to form in the market, believe that proposal falls short of their valuation, but there is no sense of a breakdown. Negotiations remain warm, and both sides are still at the table.
United’s midfield overhaul
This is no isolated move. Midfield has been the heart of United’s summer operation.
Youri Tielemans has already arrived from Aston Villa, bringing Premier League nous and passing range. Andrey Santos has joined from Chelsea, a younger, more developmental piece with clear upside. Earlier in the window, United had a deal lined up for Atalanta’s Ederson, only to pull out when concerns emerged over a knee problem.
They then turned to Elliot Anderson, only to see the England international choose Manchester City instead. That setback, combined with a growing injury list, has sharpened the urgency at Old Trafford.
Manuel Ugarte picked up an injury during the World Cup with Uruguay, disrupting Carrick’s plans at the base of midfield. Mason Mount then missed the final two games of pre-season, further thinning the options just as competitive fixtures draw near. United need bodies. More than that, they need the right profile.
Baleba’s rise at Brighton
Baleba fits that brief. Signed by Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023, he has quickly grown into a key figure on the south coast. Since his arrival, he has made 112 appearances across all competitions for the Seagulls, an impressive workload for a player still only 22.
Last season alone he featured 35 times, his rhythm interrupted only briefly when he joined up with Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations. Strong, dynamic and comfortable in possession, he has become the sort of all-action midfielder Brighton rarely let go without a premium.
That explains their stance at the negotiating table. Brighton know his value. United know his importance to their rebuild. The gap between those two numbers is what the current talks are trying to close.
Fitting into Carrick’s plans
If United get this over the line, Baleba will walk into a fiercely competitive midfield unit. He would be battling for minutes with Tielemans, Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and captain Bruno Fernandes in Carrick’s evolving system.
For Carrick, that sort of depth is not a luxury; it is a necessity. United want energy around Mainoo, protection for the back line, and more legs around Fernandes to free him in advanced areas. Baleba’s arrival would add another powerful runner and ball-winner to that mix, and his age means he fits both the present and the long-term project.
United’s hierarchy are keen to move quickly now. Pre-season is done. The real stuff is about to start. Every day without their potential new midfielder on the training pitch is a day lost in adaptation.
Talks with Brighton remain active and positive, with all parties understood to be confident a compromise can be reached. If that final valuation is agreed, Baleba’s path to Old Trafford will be clear — and United’s midfield overhaul will take another significant step forward.
