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Analysis
- 19 minutes ago
Man Utd get massive Carlos Baleba boost - and it's bad news for Liverpool
Tom Weber
- Updated: 16 Mar 2026 17:28 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Brighton have resigned themselves to losing Manchester United target Carlos Baleba this summer, and they want to replace him with a player currently being chased by Liverpool.
The Cameroon international was the subject of an approach from Man Utd late in the previous summer window. After signing three attackers, the Red Devils were keen to bolster their midfield.
However, Brighton refused to play along. They made it clear that Baleba was not for sale and forced Man Utd to abandon their pursuit, despite agreeing terms with the 22-year-old.
Current ETV
Carlos Baleba
DM, M (C)
Brighton
Carlos Baleba
DM, M (C)
Brighton
ETV Range
€62.6M - €76.5M
Heading into this summer, Baleba is once again a priority target for the Old Trafford club. He features prominently on their midfield shortlist, alongside Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton.
Contact with his camp has been maintained since last year. Man Utd know that Baleba has his heart set on joining them and are confident of landing him this summer.
Brighton will sell Baleba
To that end, they have now received a big boost. According to TEAMtalk, Brighton have already resigned themselves to losing Baleba, and they will not stand in his way if their valuation of around €80 million is met. Man Utd are "firmly" leading the race to sign the Cameroon star.
The Seagulls already know their preferred replacement. They want to sign Nordsjaelland youngster Caleb Yirenkyi with the Baleba money, and they believe that they are well-placed to secure his signature.
This is potentially bad news for Liverpool, who have scheduled a meeting with Yirenkyi's representatives for the upcoming international break. Their scouts have been impressed with the midfielder in recent months.
Yirenkyi is currently learning from former Chelsea star Michael Essien at Nordsjaelland, and voices in the industry believe that he can emulate his mentor if he fulfils his potential.
It is thought that the 20-year-old will prioritise guaranteed game time when choosing his next club, and this could give Brighton a crucial edge over Liverpool in the chase for his signature.
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