Manchester United are making progress in their efforts to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as manager Michael Carrick looks to add more strength and dynamism to his midfield.
United had previously tried to recruit the Cameroon international last summer but were discouraged by Brighton’s valuation, which exceeded £100m.
The midfielder is now available for a considerably lower fee, prompting United to revive their interest after failing to secure Matheus Fernandes earlier in the transfer window.
According to BBC Sport, United have submitted an opening bid of £60m. That figure is still below Brighton’s valuation, but discussions between the clubs are ongoing.
United have already added two midfielders this summer, signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m in July.
Mason Mount also performed strongly alongside Santos during United’s opening three pre-season fixtures before suffering a foot injury against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8.
Baleba is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during Brighton’s pre-season training camp in Austria and is expected to remain out for another two to three weeks.
Brighton are scheduled to travel to Norway on Wednesday for their UEFA Conference League play-off first-leg encounter with Tromso on Thursday.
The 22-year-old Baleba made 35 appearances for Brighton last season, collecting seven yellow cards while predominantly playing as a defensive midfielder.
United’s renewed pursuit reflects their belief that Baleba can provide qualities currently missing from their midfield. Despite the arrivals of Santos and Tielemans, the Cameroon international offers the box-to-box energy the club still considers necessary.
Baleba is reportedly keen on the move, while the final transfer fee is expected to remain considerably below the figure Brighton demanded a year ago.
However, his reduced valuation is partly linked to a dip in his performances during the previous campaign. Baleba made 31 Premier League starts and three substitute appearances in 2024-25, compared with 23 starts and eight substitute outings in 2025-26.
That decline coincided with a reduced role under Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler during a season in which the club secured European football for only the second time in its history.
There had been speculation that United’s interest had distracted Baleba, although Brighton sources previously rejected that suggestion.
With the transfer deadline approaching, United have now formally stepped up their pursuit, with Carrick hoping the club can land the version of Baleba who impressed during the 2024-25 campaign.
