Manchester United bid £65m for Brighton's Baleba despite ankle injury ruling him out for three weeks

Manchester United have formally bid £65m for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, reviving interest in the 22-year-old Cameroonian 12 months after the club walked away from a deal when Brighton’s asking price exceeded £100m. The offer comprises an initial £60m fee with a further £5m in performance-related add-ons.

The move comes as United push to complete a third midfield signing before the transfer window closes. Baleba would become the club’s most expensive acquisition of the summer, surpassing the £50m spent on Andrey Santos and the £35m paid for Youri Tielemans.

However, United face an immediate setback on the injury front. Baleba picked up a minor ankle ligament problem during Brighton pre-season training and has already missed a number of the Seagulls’ friendlies. He is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks, meaning he would miss United’s Premier League fixtures against Hull, Ipswich Town, and Everton should a deal be concluded in time. His earliest realistic return could come in the Carabao Cup third round, with the Manchester derby on 13 September representing a firmer target.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged last season that persistent transfer speculation had disrupted Baleba’s form and focus, a factor that may now work in United’s favour as both clubs look to draw a line under the uncertainty.

The urgency behind United’s midfield recruitment has been shaped by two significant departures and one serious injury. Casemiro left Old Trafford on a free transfer this summer, while Manuel Ugarte suffered a severe knee injury at the World Cup, forcing the club to accelerate its search for reinforcements.

Manager Michael Carrick addressed the club’s transfer activity at a press briefing in Dublin, stressing that United remain determined to keep strengthening the squad and are actively pursuing further additions before the window shuts.