Baleba makes Man Utd wish clear as key hurdle removed for midfielder's transfer

Carlos Baleba has taken steps to push through a move to Manchester United as one key hurdle has been removed for a transfer.

United are looking for two or three reinforcements for midfield with the departure of Casemiro and they already have one all but sealed in Ederson.

Brighton's Baleba is in a long list of other midfielders that United are considering and it is the second summer in succession for the Cameroonian.

But this time Baleba is pushing for a deal as was clear following the final game of the season against United.

As the United players celebrated a 3-0 win over Brighton, he made his way straight to Matheus Cunha, speaking at length with the Brazilian by the tunnel.

He then made sure to catch the attention of Patrick Dorgu in front of journalists.

Baleba has been tracked by United for over a year, and the connections run deep.

He is a former Lille teammate of Leny Yoro, close friends with fellow Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo, and was actively encouraged to pursue a move to Old Trafford last year by compatriot Andre Onana — before his loan switch to Trabzonspor.

Cunha, meanwhile, has been supportive of Baleba having faced him twice during his time at Wolves. The United dressing room, it seems, has already done some of the recruiting.

United reached a verbal agreement on personal terms with Baleba as far back as August 2025 — and that agreement remains valid heading into this summer.

And this year there is the added incentive of Champions League football, while Brighton are more willing to negotiate a price.

The stumbling block last summer was Brighton's asking price. The Seagulls demanded in excess of £100 million, a figure that made any deal impossible as United prioritised overhauling their attack.

That key hurdle has been removed as the valuation has since dropped significantly, with Brighton now reportedly willing to negotiate at around £50 million.

The transfer noise clearly affected Baleba on the pitch and he was substituted at half-time in three of Brighton's first seven league games. His manager Fabian Hurzeler conceded there "might be some noises in his head" — a barely veiled reference to United's contact.

Hurzeler started him just 23 times in the Premier League last season, eight fewer than the previous campaign, and Baleba completed 90 minutes on only four occasions.

He was also dropped for last month's visit of United, with Hurzeler citing fatigue and a poor display against Leeds the week prior.

While Baleba also has accepted that he did not play at his best last season. "Did I put too much pressure on myself? Yes, I think so," he admitted, "but that's good for me — now I need to get up and continue to work."

United see him as the ideal partner for Kobbie Mainoo in the centre of midfield — a tenacious, powerful presence who wins the ball and drives play forward.

All will depend on the transfer fee while United also have the luxury of several other possibilities even if Elliott Anderson is ruled out due to Nottingham Forest's exorbitant asking price.