'For sure' - Romano sends reassuring Baleba to Man Utd message

Tom Weber

• Updated: 13 Aug 2025 15:34 BST
• 4 min read

News

Manchester United continue to work on a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, but they also have alternative targets, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Red Devils are looking to pull off one of the most ambitious - and risky - transfers of the summer. Man Utd went into this window on a limited budget, reportedly no bigger than €100 million.

Despite restricted funds, mounting debts and no sales, they have once again spent lavishly on new recruits, shelling out more than €230 million on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Diego Leon by utilising their revolving credit facility.

This in itself is a high-risk approach, with new co-owners INEOS backing Ruben Amorim to be able to turn things around this season and at least make it into Europe. However, Man Utd are still not done in the market and have also held talks with Carlos Baleba.

The Old Trafford club believe that the Cameroon midfielder is keen on the move, but according to Sky Sports, there have been no formal talks with Brighton yet. The Seagulls don't want to sell, and Fabrizio Romano posits that it could require a fee of up to £120m (€139m) to break their resolve.

Man Utd have Baleba alternatives

Despite Brighton's stance, Man Utd appear to be going all out for Baleba. Contact with the 21-year-old's camp is being maintained, with Man Utd seemingly hoping that they can turn his head and get him to agitate for a move.

However, so far, there is no suggestion that this undertaking will be successful. Sky describes this as an 'extremely difficult' deal, and Brighton are under absolutely no pressure to sell, with Baleba still having three years to run on his contract.

Amorim is keen to add a dynamic midfielder to his side before the end of the window, though, so Man Utd would be ill-advised to put all their eggs in one basket. Fortunately, Romano reports that this is not the case and that the Red Devils do have alternative targets that they can turn to.

"For sure, they will have alternatives, as every top club does, but at the moment they're still trying for Baleba. Still not easy," the transfer insider told GIVEMESPORT.

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