Man United's £65m Baleba bid headlines busy window as Kambwala sell-on clause set to pay off

Manchester United have bid up to £65m for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as manager Michael Carrick pushes to complete a midfield overhaul before the September 1 transfer deadline. If the deal goes through, the 22-year-old Cameroonian international would become United’s most expensive signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans at Old Trafford.

Carrick’s side are also set to recoup funds through a sell-on clause inserted when Willy Kambwala left for Villarreal in 2024. The 21-year-old defender, who made 10 appearances for United before his move to Spain, is attracting interest from Serie A side Como and La Liga club Osasuna. United included a “sizeable” sell-on fee in that deal, according to the Manchester Evening News, though Kambwala is not expected to command a significant transfer fee, which will limit the amount heading back to Old Trafford. The defender has made 23 appearances for Villarreal in total, with injuries restricting his minutes last season.

The club have made a habit of protecting their position when selling academy talent this summer. Tyler Fredricson’s move to Lausanne-Sport included a “high percentage” sell-on clause, and a similar provision was inserted into Radek Vitek’s switch to Middlesbrough.

On the outgoing side, United look set to lose two more academy prospects to rivals Arsenal. Winger James Scanlon, 19, who spent part of last season on loan at Swindon Town, and defender Habeeb Ogunneye, 20, who returned from a loan spell at Newport County in January, are both reportedly heading to the Emirates. The reported double departure underlines the competitive pressure United face in retaining young talent as the window approaches its close.