Manchester United Closing In On £60m Carlos Baleba Deal

Manchester United are moving towards a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with talks between the clubs described as constructive and progressing as the window enters a decisive phase.

United have lodged an opening offer worth around £60 million (€70m) plus a further £5m in potential add-ons, according to The Athletic. Brighton believe that proposal still falls short of their valuation of the 22-year-old, but there is no stand-off. Discussions remain friendly, and both sides are working to land on a final fee.

United’s summer has revolved around rebuilding the heart of Michael Carrick’s midfield. Baleba is the latest – and potentially the most significant – piece of that plan.

United’s midfield overhaul

The club have already moved early in the market, bringing in Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea to refresh a unit that looked stretched last season.

A deal for Atalanta’s Ederson had been agreed before United pulled out over concerns about a knee problem flagged during medical checks. They then turned to Elliot Anderson, only to see the England international choose Manchester City instead. Each setback sharpened the focus on landing the right profile: young, athletic, and ready to start.

Injuries have only cranked up the urgency. Manuel Ugarte, a key figure for Uruguay at the World Cup, picked up an injury during the tournament. Mason Mount then missed United’s final two pre-season fixtures, stripping Carrick of options just as competitive games loom.

That combination of failed pursuits and fitness issues has pushed Baleba to the top of the list.

Baleba’s rise at Brighton

Baleba arrived at Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023 and has grown into one of the Premier League’s most watchable young midfielders. He has already clocked up 112 appearances in all competitions for the south-coast club, a remarkable figure for a player still only 22.

Last season he featured 35 times for Brighton, his rhythm interrupted only briefly by international duty with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. When available, he played. Brighton trusted him, and he justified that faith with energy, power and a willingness to take responsibility in possession.

That blend of physicality and composure is exactly what United are paying for.

If the deal goes through, Baleba will walk into a fiercely competitive midfield group at Old Trafford. Carrick would be able to call on Baleba alongside Tielemans, Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and captain Bruno Fernandes, giving him a far deeper and more flexible core than at any point last season.

Deal edging towards the finish line

Talks between United and Brighton are ongoing and, crucially for United, remain positive. There is no sense of a breakdown, only a gap in valuation that both parties believe can be bridged.

With pre-season now wrapped up and the first competitive fixtures closing in, United want the move wrapped up quickly so Baleba can be integrated into Carrick’s system and match rhythm without delay.

All sides are understood to be confident a compromise will be found. If that happens, Brighton will lose another key asset, and United will add a powerful new engine to their midfield just as the season’s real questions begin.