Manchester United bid £60m for Brighton midfielder Baleba

Manchester United's midfield reconstruction under manager Michael Carrick is nearing completion as the club steps up its pursuit of a third midfielder. United have lodged an opening offer of 60 million pounds, alongside an additional 5 million pounds, to secure Brighton's Carlos Baleba. While this initial bid falls short of Brighton's valuation, talks are actively continuing with expectations that a transfer agreement will eventually be reached.

A year ago, United explored a potential move for Baleba but immediately backed away upon discovering his asking price would exceed 100 million pounds. This latest push comes in response to significant squad adjustments for the 2026-27 season. Veteran Brazilian midfielder Casemiro departed upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, while former manager Ruben Amorim's departure resulted in skipper Bruno Fernandes moving into an advanced role. With Manuel Ugarte not heavily favoured, Kobbie Mainoo entered the summer as the sole experienced midfielder expected to play a prominent role.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Pre-season fixtures highlighted specific tactical needs. While Andrey Santos excelled at shielding the defence and Youri Tielemans brought composure and passing range, a defeat against AC Milan in Wroclaw exposed a distinct lack of energy and box-to-box presence. Baleba's primary asset is his exceptional ground-covering speed. Although currently sidelined for a couple more weeks due to a pre-season ankle injury, his eventual arrival will provide Carrick with tactical flexibility alongside Mason Mount and young prospect Tyler Fletcher.