United close in on Baleba for £65m as left-back pursuit of Lewis Hall moves centre stage

Manchester United are on the verge of signing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba for £60m plus £5m in add-ons, making the 22-year-old Cameroonian the club’s most expensive arrival of the summer transfer window under manager Michael Carrick.

Baleba had been a long-term target at Old Trafford, with United’s interest cooling last summer after Brighton held firm at a £100m valuation. A dip in form and a recent injury have since brought that asking price down considerably, allowing the deal to progress.

The signing completes a significant engine-room overhaul at United. Andrey Santos arrived for £50m last month, and Youri Tielemans was brought in for £35m, giving Carrick three new midfielders in a single window — an approach that mirrors the club’s recruitment of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in attack twelve months ago.

With the transfer window closing on September 1, attention is expected to shift quickly to the left-back position. Luke Shaw, 31, shouldered a heavy workload last season across all four competitions, and the club are keen to bring in both cover and a long-term successor. That search has been complicated by reports that young prospect Harry Amass could depart on loan or permanently in the coming days.

Director of football Jason Wilcox has identified Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall as the primary defensive target. The 21-year-old, contracted at St James’ Park until June 2029, is valued by Newcastle at between £60m and £70m. The Magpies have publicly declared Hall untouchable, but United are expected to test that resolve with a formal offer.

Newcastle made similar declarations over Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes earlier this summer, yet both players ultimately moved on — Isak to Liverpool and Guimaraes to Arsenal. United’s ability to offer Champions League football, which Newcastle will not play next season following a difficult campaign, could prove a decisive factor in any negotiations, particularly if Hall himself pushes for the move.