Manchester United missed out on two midfield targets this week. Mateus Fernandes signed with Tottenham. Elliot Anderson went to Manchester City. That leaves the club scrambling a bit, and it might reopen the door for a player who’s been waiting on them for over a year.
Carlos Baleba still wants to join United. That’s according to reports, and it’s not new. The Brighton midfielder made it clear last summer he was interested in a move to Old Trafford, but the Seagulls refused to sell. They held firm despite United’s offers and Baleba’s preference. Now, with United’s midfield looking thin after Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s World Cup injury, the club could come back around.
Baleba’s Price Tag Is Heavy But the Market Is Worse
Brighton is expected to ask for around $90 million. That’s roughly what the original article quoted in pounds, and it’s a lot for a 22-year-old who hit a rough patch this season. Baleba broke through last year with the kind of box-to-box energy that put him on United’s radar in the first place. But his form dipped, and now some question whether he’s worth that kind of money.
The thing is, the market is already nuts. Fernandes cost Tottenham a fortune. Anderson went for a premium too. United looked at both and walked away because the prices were too high. So if they’re balking at those fees, why would they pay even more for Baleba? That’s the question, and nobody has a clear answer yet.
Michael Carrick’s midfield needs help. Casemiro is gone, Ugarte is hurt, and the depth behind them isn’t proven. United can’t afford to go into the season thin in the middle of the park, especially with Champions League ambitions. Baleba isn’t a perfect fit. He’s raw, inconsistent at times, and still developing. But he’s also 22, athletic, and desperate to play for United. That counts for something.
Brighton has a history of selling high. They let Caicedo go for a huge fee, and they’ll do the same with Baleba if the right offer comes. The question is whether United’s need is urgent enough to meet that price. The club has not commented on the reports, and sources close to the situation say talks are informal at best right now.
But Baleba’s camp is pushing. They know this is a window where United might be forced to act. And if the alternative is overpaying for someone else or going into the season short-handed, maybe $90 million for a player who actually wants to be there starts to look reasonable.
Or maybe United waits and tests Brighton later in the window. Either way, this one isn’t dead yet.
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