Man Utd close on deal for Brighton's Baleba

Manchester United are inching closer to sealing a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. Last summer, the club attempted to sign the Cameroon international near the end of the transfer window but was deterred by Brighton's asking price of over £100m. After failing to secure Matheus Fernandes earlier this summer, United have decided to re-approach Baleba.

Initially offering £60m, their bid is currently below Brighton's valuation, yet negotiations are ongoing. United has already signed midfielders Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m and Youri Tielemans, who arrived from Aston Villa for £35m this summer. Mason Mount, who showcased his skills in the pre-season's initial games alongside Santos, has been sidelined due to a foot injury sustained against Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8.

Baleba is projected to miss the next two to three weeks because of an ankle injury sustained during a pre-season training camp in Austria. Brighton's squad is set to depart for Norway on Wednesday, with a UEFA Conference League play-off first-leg match against Tromso scheduled for Thursday. Baleba made 35 appearances for Brighton last season, earning seven yellow cards as a defensive midfielder.

The fee has decreased due to Baleba's disappointing performance for Brighton in the 2024-25 season. He started 31 matches and made three substitute appearances, while in the 2025-26 season, his numbers dropped to 23 starts and eight substitutes appearances. Despite this decline, Baleba remains committed to the move, and the fee will be considerably lower than the previous £100m quote.

Brighton sources maintain that it's not because of United's interest in the player. As the transfer deadline looms, Old Trafford's management has acted decisively.