Carlos Baleba's Instagram 'like' as Man Utd press to sign Brighton midfielder

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by Chris Hetherington
Sunday, 10 August 2025 at 15:38
Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 10.42.34
Manchester United target Carlos Baleba has set tongues wagging after liking an Instagram post from Leny Yoro.
The move is a clear hint the Brighton midfielder about his feelings after United have contacted his representatives.
Baleba, 21, has been on United’s radar for weeks, with manager Ruben Amorim pushing for a dynamic midfield addition before the transfer window closes. And he is pals with Yoro from their days together at Lille.
United have held talks with Baleba’s representatives over personal terms, and sources suggest the player is open to the move. The Instagram like, which came shortly after Yoro posted a training ground photo, has only intensified speculation.
Negotiations with Brighton, however, remain complicated. The Seagulls are under no pressure to sell and would demand a fee exceeding the £115 million they received from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo last year.
Such a price would represent a club-record outlay for United, surpassing the £89 million they paid for Paul Pogba in 2016, reported The Sun.
Despite the daunting valuation, United’s interest has not cooled. Part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to back Amorim’s rebuild, and Baleba’s physicality, box-to-box energy, and Premier League experience make him an attractive option.
United insiders believe his skill set would perfectly complement Casemiro or Kobbie Mainoo in a two-man midfield.
Brighton, meanwhile, are publicly playing down the speculation. Senior club figures have insisted no formal bid has been made, branding reports of contact as “pure speculation.”
That stance hasn’t stopped the rumour mill—fans have even launched a tongue-in-cheek GoFundMe campaign to “help pay” Baleba’s transfer fee, with a target of £120 million.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has also weighed in, urging the club to prioritise Baleba over another attacking signing. “He’s the kind of player who changes the tempo of a midfield,” Ferdinand said.
With United’s opening Premier League fixture against Arsenal on August 17 fast approaching, the Baleba chase could go right to the wire.
For now, a simple double-tap on Instagram has fuelled one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer stories—and given fans hope that another major signing could be on the horizon.
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