Manchester United close to agreement with Brighton for Carlos Baleba

Manchester United close to agreement with Brighton for Carlos Baleba

Manchester United are nearing a full agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba. The 22-year-old is understood to be preparing for travel to Manchester to undergo a medical once the deal is formally concluded.

United have submitted an offer of approximately £60m (€70m, $81m) plus £5m in add-ons, according to The Athletic. While Brighton views this initial proposal as being below their valuation, talks between the two clubs remain amicable and positive. The overall deal is expected to be worth in excess of £60m.

A five-year contract is already prepared for the midfielder to sign. Baleba would become the third midfield arrival of the summer for head coach Michael Carrick, joining Youri Tielemans, who arrived from Aston Villa, and Andrey Santos, who joined from Chelsea. The recruitment drive follows the departure of Casemiro at the end of his contract.

The move comes after a period of sustained interest. Sky Sports News has reported on United's pursuit of Baleba since last autumn, including inquiries made during the January transfer window. A move did not materialize a year ago when Brighton's reported valuation of £100m-plus proved a stumbling block.

United's interest persisted despite a dip in form for the midfielder over the last 12 months. The Athletic reported in April that a transfer remained plausible due to underlying data and Baleba's performances in his first two Premier League seasons. United also monitored the player during the Africa Cup of Nations, where he appeared in five matches for Cameroon, and rated his metrics for passing, possession-winning, and ground coverage.

Stylistically, United view Baleba as a specialist defensive presence capable of winning the ball in deeper areas and driving the team up the pitch. Due to his left-footedness, the club believes he could also provide cover at left-back. The midfielder has previously cited Paul Pogba, Yaya Toure, and Andres Iniesta as influences, alongside favorite players Neymar and Ronaldinho.

Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and has since made 112 appearances, including 35 during last season. He is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during pre-season, though the issue is not expected to keep him out for an extended period.

The urgency for midfield reinforcements is compounded by current squad injuries. Manuel Ugarte is sidelined with a knee injury suffered during the World Cup with Uruguay, and Mason Mount missed the final two games of pre-season.

The pursuit of Baleba follows other failed or diverted targets. United agreed terms with Atalanta for the Brazilian midfielder Ederson but backed out due to knee concerns. The club also pursued Elliot Anderson, who instead joined Manchester City.

If the move is finalized, Baleba will join Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, Tielemans, and Santos as first-team options for Carrick. United begin their Premier League season this weekend with an away match against newly-promoted Hull City. The summer transfer window remains open for just under two weeks.