Key Takeaways:
- Brighton rejected Manchester United’s opening bid for Carlos Baleba
- The offer included cash plus 21-year-old midfielder Toby Collyer
- Brighton want a fee similar to the £115m received for Moises Caicedo in 2023
Brighton’s management has turned down Manchester United’s opening offer for midfielder Carlos Baleba. According to The Sun, the proposal consisted of a cash sum plus a player from the Red Devils. The player offered was 21-year-old defensive midfielder Toby Collyer. The financial details of the offer were not disclosed, but it was rejected.
🚨 Carlos Baleba is KEEN on a possible Manchester United move, and personal terms would not be a problem.
A number of United players have been in contact with Baleba about a transfer, explaining the current landscape and ambitions.
(Source: @David_Ornstein, @lauriewhitwell) pic.twitter.com/LiPBHmQP1v
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 12, 2025
Brighton maintain that they should receive a fee for Baleba similar to the amount paid by Chelsea for Moises Caicedo in 2023. At that time, the London side paid £115 million for the Ecuadorian.
Baleba has missed Brighton’s last three friendly matches and has not featured since mid-July. Reports indicate he is recovering from a knee injury sustained during training.
In recent years, Brighton have parted ways with central midfielders such as Alexis Mac Allister, Caicedo and Yves Bissouma, yet the Seagulls have consistently succeeded in finding effective replacements for departing players.
