- Manchester United contacted Brighton via intermediaries over a transfer for Carlos Baleba
- Brighton want £90M + £10M in bonuses, United are offering £70M
- Baleba joined from Lille for €27M and is under contract until 2028
Key Takeaways:
Manchester United will attempt to strengthen their ranks by signing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. Representatives of the Red Devils have already made contact with Brighton’s management through intermediaries in an attempt to complete a transfer for the 21-year-old Cameroon international, according to the British press.
🚨🔴 Carlos Baleba didn’t close doors to Man United after direct contact with his camp.
Manchester United believe agreeing terms with Baleba terms won’t be an issue but club-to-club deal, considered very difficult.
Brighton want to keep Baleba this summer & won’t make it easy. pic.twitter.com/JiflxWe1IM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2025
Reports indicate that Brighton have little desire to sell one of their best young players but are willing to part ways with him for an offer of £90 million plus an additional £10 million in bonuses. United are not prepared to pay more than £70 million for now, but at Old Trafford are hopeful that by reaching a personal agreement with the player, Baleba could ask Brighton to reduce his price in order to finalise the deal. The Red Devils will still need to make several sales of surplus players.
Brighton signed Baleba from French side Lille two years ago for a fee of €27 million. However, he quickly established himself as one of the most talented central midfielders in the Premier League, which has led to the sharp rise in his market value. His contract with Brighton runs until the summer of 2028, with an option for a one-year extension.