The Sports Guru
Can Carlos Baleba give Manchester United the running and defensive reach their reshaped midfield needs? The possible move carries an obvious appeal, but continuing will explain why recent doubts around his Brighton form matter just as much as his physical gifts.
Manchester United’s pursuit of Carlos Baleba is easy to understand on the pitch and harder to settle away from it. He appears to offer a dimension their new midfield options do not naturally provide, yet the reported fall in his price comes after a season that raised questions about his level.
United are in talks with Brighton after returning to an interest that dates back to last summer’s deadline. Their initial £60m offer remains below Brighton’s valuation. That leaves this as a live negotiation, rather than a completed transfer, but it also shows how firmly United have returned to a player they already know well.
A different answer in midfield
United have brought in Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m. Both are presented as technically accomplished midfielders who can work in tight areas, connect play and handle pressure on the ball.
Baleba would bring a contrasting element. His ability to travel with the ball over longer distances could turn the space created by those midfielders into forward progress. The attraction is not simply another option in the same mould; it is a player capable of changing the speed and territory of a move.
His value would also be clear without the ball. Baleba has the athletic capacity to cover ground for partners less suited to physical exchanges. Quick recovery runs can help against counter-attacks, while his willingness to step forward and press can help a side win possession closer to goal.
That profile fits the high press Michael Carrick has used in pre-season. It also addresses qualities United lost after Casemiro’s departure, particularly tackling, closing down and defensive intensity. Baleba would not be a replica of a former player, but he could supply some of the functions United now need elsewhere.
The lower price carries its own message
United were discouraged by Brighton’s valuation in excess of £100m near last summer’s deadline. The current discussion is different, with the BBC reporting that Baleba’s price has reduced significantly after an underwhelming campaign.
That is the key tension. United are pursuing a player whose ability was sufficiently clear for them to target him before, but whose recent season appears to have altered both his value and his standing. A lower eventual fee could create opportunity; it could also reflect a genuine concern that United must answer before committing.
Baleba made 35 appearances for Brighton last season and received seven yellow cards while playing as a defensive midfielder. His involvement did not vanish, but the report identifies a dip in form during a campaign in which Brighton secured European football for only the second time in their history.
There was also a suggestion that United’s previous interest had affected him, although Brighton sources said they did not believe that was the case. The account does not establish a reason for the decline, and that uncertainty is part of what makes the decision more complicated.
Recent use is a concern, not a verdict
The Premier League figures in the report show a changed pattern. Thirty-one starts and three substitute appearances in 2024-25 became 23 starts and eight substitute appearances in 2025-26.
Those figures do not explain every selection decision, nor do they settle whether the player’s form can return. They do make the issue tangible. United need to judge whether they can restore the level that made Baleba a leading target in the first place, rather than assume the move alone resolves the problem.
That makes this a question of fit as well as form. Santos and Tielemans can help United retain and progress the ball in crowded spaces. Baleba could add the running needed once the ball escapes those spaces, along with the ability to recover when an attack breaks down.
Timing has become part of the deal
Baleba is expected to be out for another two to three weeks after suffering an ankle injury during Brighton’s pre-season training camp in Austria. No more precise return date is provided.
Brighton fly to Norway on Wednesday for Thursday’s Uefa Conference League play-off first-leg match with Tromso. Their immediate schedule does not determine the outcome of negotiations, but it adds a competitive context while discussions continue.
United also have a concern around Mason Mount, who performed well alongside Santos in the first three games of pre-season before struggling with a foot problem suffered against Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg on 8 August. Baleba is not presented as a direct answer to that issue, but it underlines why United’s midfield planning has become more urgent.
Brighton’s valuation remains the immediate obstacle. United’s continued interest reveals why they are willing to keep testing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Talks are continuing and United’s initial £60m offer remains below Brighton’s valuation.
His carrying, recovery pace, pressing and defensive intensity would add a different midfield profile.
Thirty-one starts and three substitute appearances in 2024-25 became 23 starts and eight substitute appearances in 2025-26.
He is expected to be out for another two to three weeks after an ankle injury in Austria.
Research: This article uses the archived evidence supplied for this story. Story inspiration: BBC Sport's original report.