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- 35 minutes ago
Carlos Baleba to Man Utd is ON - Here's why
Tom Weber
- Updated: 28 Jan 2026 16:34 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Manchester United have been heartened in their pursuit of Carlos Baleba by the news that Brighton are ready to budge from their hefty asking price.
The Cameroon international has had a mixed season so far after having his head turned in the summer. Man Utd explored a late-window move for Baleba, and the midfielder was ready to pack his bags and travel to Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old agreed personal terms with the Red Devils, but ultimately no move materialised. Brighton made it emphatically clear that their star midfielder was not for sale, leaving Baleba disappointed.
Current ETV
Carlos Baleba
DM, M (C)
Brighton
Carlos Baleba
DM, M (C)
Brighton
ETV Range
€63.2M - €77.3M
Although the player refrained from actively agitating for a move, his performances for the Seagulls were affected by the interest. However, Baleba has now managed to get his head straight again.
The youngster is coming off an impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaign and is ready to help Brighton in their bid to sneak into Europe. In the summer, though, he is expected to depart the club.
Man Utd urged to complete Baleba deal
Man Utd have retained their interest in the Cameroon star, making him one of their three top targets for the midfield. Intriguingly, the Daily Mail claims that the Red Devils have been handed a big boost by Brighton.
It is asserted that the South Coast club are no longer demanding a fee in excess of €100 million and that they are instead willing to accept a more reasonable price for Baleba. The report suggests that a sum of around €85m could be enough.
Of course, that would still make Baleba quite expensive, but this is very much the going rate for good, young Premier League players at this point. Red Devils legend Jaap Stam certainly believes that the Brighton ace would be ideal for Man Utd.
“I really like Baleba at Brighton and think he could replace Casemiro at Man Utd,” Stam told TEAMtalk. “I like Frenkie de Jong a lot, too, but it looks as though he’ll be staying at Barcelona.
"Man Utd need to be looking for a replacement that has good legs and the engine to run up and down the field. They also need to be very good with the ball. Baleba can do that.
“Kobbie Mainoo looks to be stepping up his levels and has been performing very well. Alongside him, you need a player who has quality on the ball, who can defend well, and can at times also join in the attack, get into the box and maybe score or create goals for his teammates.”
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