Manchester United Cooling Interest in Carlos Baleba as Brighton’s Price Proves Too High

Manchester United’s search for another midfielder remains ongoing, but a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba appears increasingly unlikely due to the club’s asking price.

After strengthening their squad with the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, United are still exploring the market for a defensive midfielder capable of adding energy, ball-winning ability and physical presence to the middle of the park.

Baleba has long been admired by the Old Trafford hierarchy. The Cameroon international is viewed as a player with enormous potential, and reports suggest Manchester United had previously held positive discussions over personal terms.

However, Brighton’s valuation has become the biggest obstacle. While United reportedly value the midfielder significantly lower, Brighton are understood to be demanding a fee that could approach nine figures, making any deal extremely difficult under the club’s current transfer budget.

As a result, Manchester United are now believed to be focusing on alternative midfield targets rather than committing to such an expensive transfer.

Despite a mixed campaign last season, Baleba continues to attract praise for his athleticism, defensive awareness and ability to dominate midfield battles. Those qualities have kept him high on United’s shortlist, but Brighton remain determined to keep one of their most valuable assets.

With the transfer window still open, United’s recruitment team will continue assessing other options as they look to provide manager Michael Carrick with one more midfield addition before the new season begins.

Whether the Red Devils eventually return with an improved offer for Baleba remains to be seen, but at this stage, the deal appears to be on hold unless Brighton significantly lower their demands.