Brighton’s sale of Joao Pedro to Chelsea this summer could be a promising sign for Manchester United in their pursuit of Carlos Baleba.
On Wednesday, it emerged that Manchester United intermediaries had approached Brighton to gauge the terms of a potential deal for 21-year-old midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is under contract at the Amex for another three years.
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has since dismissed talk of a move, telling a fans’ forum: “United have not been in touch with me. Speculation is speculation. Carlos is a fantastic talent.”
Despite this, the Cameroon international remains heavily linked with a high-profile transfer, with reports indicating Brighton would demand in excess of £100 million.
United may take encouragement from Joao Pedro’s recent £60 million move to Chelsea, believing it could indicate a possibility of securing Baleba for a lower fee.
In April, Brighton placed a £100 million valuation on both Joao Pedro and Carlos Baleba in an effort to deter potential buyers, with talkSPORT noting that owner Tony Bloom was under no financial pressure to sell.
The Seagulls later announced a record turnover of £222.4 million for the 2023/24 season, further showcasing their success in the transfer market.
However, just three months after setting that nine-figure price, Brighton accepted a deal worth up to £60 million for Pedro — who, like Baleba, had three years left on his contract — allowing the Brazilian striker to join Chelsea.
Fabrizio Romano update
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that Baleba has not dismissed the prospect of working under Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. Writing on X, he stated: “Carlos Baleba didn’t close doors to Man United after direct contact with his camp. Manchester United believe personal terms won’t be an issue, but a club-to-club agreement is considered very difficult.”
Romano added that Brighton remain determined to keep hold of the highly-rated midfielder and will not make negotiations easy. He also confirmed that United are intent on adding a new midfielder before the transfer window closes.
