Manchester United might circle back to Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba this summer, but only if the Seagulls drop their asking price significantly. That’s according to reporter Pete O’Rourke, who says the Red Devils still have the Cameroonian on their radar after pursuing him last year.
United were close to locking down two midfielders just days ago. They had an agreement with Atalanta for Ederson and another deal in place to bring Andrey Santos from Chelsea. The Santos move looks like it’ll go through fine. But United pulled the plug on Ederson, leaving them short in the middle of the park.
Casemiro is already out the door. And Manuel Ugarte is sidelined with a long-term injury. That’s a lot of bodies missing from a position that already needed reinforcements. O’Rourke told Football Insider that the club ideally wanted to bring in three midfielders this window.
Baleba fits the profile United liked last summer. But Brighton’s valuation has been a sticking point. Reports from TEAMtalk suggest the south coast club have dropped their price to around £70 million. That’s still more than United want to spend. They’re looking at deals closer to the £50 million mark. That’s why Santos became a more realistic target.
Another name in the mix is Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams. The USMNT midfielder would also cost around £50 million, according to reports. United have been in contact with the Cherries about a potential move, though it’s not clear how serious those talks are right now.
So where does that leave Baleba? If Brighton signal they’re willing to negotiate closer to United’s budget, things could move quickly. But if they hold firm at £70 million or thereabouts, the Red Devils will likely look elsewhere.
United still need at least one more midfielder before the window closes. Whether it’s Baleba, Adams, or someone else entirely isn’t clear yet. The club’s recruitment team has a list and they’re working through it. That’s about as much as we know right now.
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