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21 August 2026

Manchester United continue to pursue Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, although an agreement has not yet been completed. The Red Devils were also credited with interest in the Cameroon international last summer, but were unable to get the deal done.

Casemiro’s exit at the end of last season has created a gap in central midfield. The Premier League giants have tried to strengthen that area by bringing in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Even so, United are still short of a natural ball-winning midfielder, particularly with Manuel Ugarte ruled out by an ACL injury and already viewed as surplus to requirements.

That has led the Red Devils to revisit their interest in Baleba after also missing out on Elliot Anderson earlier this summer. The 22-year-old made a major impact during the 2024/25 campaign, cementing his reputation as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders.

Baleba did not quite reach those same heights last season, but he seems to have done enough for United to revive their pursuit during the current transfer window.

United wrapped up the signing of Tielemans in mid-July, and since then there has been little movement on the recruitment front. The English club had always been expected to add a third midfielder this year, but their lack of activity in the market had cast doubt over whether another deal would happen.

That changed earlier this week when reports emerged unexpectedly that the Red Devils were in advanced discussions with Brighton over Baleba. The news naturally sparked huge excitement among supporters around the world, especially as the Cameroon midfielder is seen as a potentially ideal partner for Kobbie Mainoo in the centre of the pitch.

A transfer is expected to be worth around €70 million, while Baleba’s former club Lille, who hold a sell-on clause, are likely to receive between €6-8 million. It has also been reported that the midfielder is set to sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford.

However, the Cameroon international is expected to miss the start of the season because he is currently recovering from an ankle injury. It is understood that the problem is not considered serious, with United still pressing ahead with the move. Even so, the transfer has not yet been finalised, and Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has now commented publicly on the situation.

Speaking to talkSPORT on Thursday, Barber was careful in his response regarding United’s chase for Baleba. When host Jim White asked whether the midfielder was heading to Old Trafford, Barber replied: “It’s not something that I can talk about right now.”

He did, however, suggest that Brighton could consider a move if the terms are right financially, saying: “This time of year we’re always going to be subject to bids for our players, we’re always going to be interested in ones that are sensible and are going to make sense for us financially, economically.”

At the same time, Barber emphasised that Brighton must also protect their ambitions for the 2026/27 season, explaining that the club need to strike the right balance. He said: “But we also have to balance that with making sure our squad is as strong as it can be to compete in competitions like the one we’re in.”

He added: “So nothing really to say on Carlos at the moment other than that he’s a hugely talented young midfielder who’s done really well for us and has attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs in the world now for a couple of years.”

Barber has stopped short of dismissing United’s interest in the Cameroon midfielder, and the indications are that the move is continuing along the expected path. Supporters will now hope INEOS can push the transfer over the line quickly and then turn attention to strengthening other parts of the squad before the summer window closes.