Man Utd handed Carlos Baleba transfer deadline as formal bid lined up

Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
  • 12 Aug 2025 16:00 BST
  • 4 min read
Carlos Baleba, Man Utd
© IMAGO

Manchester United have been warned they must sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba this summer.

Article continues under the video

The 21-year-old has been earmarked as a top target by the Old Trafford hierarchy over the past week, however Brighton are reluctant to permit a sale after offloading Joao Pedro to Chelsea in June.

Current ETV
Player image Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba

DM, M (C)

Brighton logo

Brighton

Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba

DM, M (C)

Brighton

Brighton

€55.3M

ETV Range

€49.8M - €60.9M

Baleba is reportedly eager to join the Red Devils, despite their failure to qualify for Europe last term, and former Watford striker Troy Deeney believes Ruben Amorim’s side must complete a deal this summer. Otherwise, they risk losing out to a club such as Real Madrid.

“I think United have to get Baleba this window, or they don’t get him,” Deeney told talkSPORT. “If he has another good season, I do think other teams with Real Madrid and the like will come in and go ‘Bosh, we’ll have him.’

“I think if Man United want him…if I’m Ruben Amorim I’m kind of bullish on that. I’d be saying ‘Get this deal done because then I can get you into Europe’. If they can sign him, he can move them up 10 spaces [in the Premier League].”

Man Utd want to sign Carlos Baleba this summer
© IMAGO - Man Utd want to sign Carlos Baleba this summer

Carlos Baleba to join Man Utd?

Reports speculate that Baleba has already agreed personal terms with Man Utd, but the Red Devils are yet to submit an official approach for the Cameroon international, as confirmed by Brighton club chairman Paul Barber during a recent fan forum appearance.

However, GiveMeSport claim that Man Utd are ready to test Brighton’s resolve with a formal bid for Baleba.

It’s understood that Fabian Hurzeler’s side will demand a fee of at least €115.7 million (£100m) for Baleba and he is expected to become the most expensive African footballer of all time if he leaves the AMEX Stadium this summer.

French journalist Nabil Djellit recently reported that a price of €130m has even been discussed behind the scenes.

Football transfer news headlines today

DONE DEALS: Every official completed transfer around Europe today

Chelsea offer FOUR players to Man Utd in Garnacho swap deal bid

Confirmed: Carlos Baleba wants to join Man Utd

Vinicius Jr in 'secret transfer talks' as Arsenal and Chelsea eye BOMBSHELL deal

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store.

Download here:

Google Play

App Store

Never miss the next big transfer!

Get the latest transfer insights and analyses directly in your mailbox.