Manchester United table £60m bid for Brighton's Baleba as midfield rebuild accelerates

Manchester United have submitted a £60m bid for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with the club looking to add a third central midfielder this summer as they navigate a congested injury and departure list in that position.

Brighton are yet to accept the offer and are believed to want more than the initial figure, though talks are continuing. United’s bid includes a potential £5m in add-ons, taking the total to £65m — a significant reduction from the £100m-plus Brighton placed on the 22-year-old Cameroon international last summer, when United first registered their interest.

Baleba’s valuation has fallen following a difficult 2024-25 season, and United have revived their pursuit after missing out on alternative targets. Mateus Fernandes joined Tottenham from West Ham, while Elliot Anderson moved to Manchester City from Nottingham Forest. United also agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta before a medical revealed concerns and the transfer collapsed.

The club has already spent £83m on midfield reinforcements this window, bringing in Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m. However, the departures and injury concerns have left manager Michael Carrick short of options in the engine room. Casemiro has left the club, Manuel Ugarte is currently sidelined, and Mason Mount has missed United’s last two pre-season friendlies.

Baleba himself is currently out with an ankle problem, though the issue is not expected to sideline him for an extended period and is not believed to be a barrier to completing a transfer.