Man United's £65m Baleba bid signals a quieter, smarter transfer approach than the De Jong debacle

Manchester United have moved swiftly to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, submitting a £65m offer — £60m plus £5m in add-ons — in a transfer window that has been defined by speed and discretion rather than the public sagas that plagued previous regimes.

The bid came as a surprise to many observers. Reports earlier in the summer had suggested Baleba was no longer a priority, with Sander Berge, Manu Kone and Aurelien Tchouameni among the names linked instead. United’s decision to pivot quickly and make tangible progress on Baleba reflects a deliberate shift in how the club conducts its business.

It is a marked departure from the summer of 2022, when United’s pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong became one of the most drawn-out transfer sagas in recent memory. CEO Richard Arnold and then-sporting director John Murtagh were photographed in Barcelona in mid-July of that year after reaching an agreement in principle with the club, yet De Jong himself never wanted to move to Old Trafford. According to BBC Sport, United’s own recruitment staff had concluded the signing was impossible, but Erik ten Hag pushed on regardless, prolonging the saga for nearly two months before the club finally abandoned the chase.

The fallout was costly. United scrambled to sign Casemiro for £70m — a 30-year-old handed a four-year contract — as a reactive alternative. That deal has since run its course, with Casemiro departing this summer.

This window has looked very different. The signing of Youri Tielemans, triggered via a clean £35m release clause, and the arrival of Andrey Santos on loan from Chelsea were both completed without fanfare. United’s new hierarchy, under INEOS, appear committed to keeping negotiations private until deals are close to completion.

United’s interest in Baleba is not new. Brighton quoted them a reported £100m for the Cameroon international last summer following his breakout season at the Amex. By holding off and returning this year, United appear to have saved a significant sum, with the current bid sitting well below that initial valuation — though Brighton have not yet accepted the offer.

At 21, Baleba offers energy and physicality in central midfield, and United’s groundwork from last summer means they know the player well. The expectation, based on current progress, is that a deal will be finalised before the transfer deadline.