Manchester United have submitted a formal bid for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, but the 22-year-old is currently recovering from a minor ankle ligament injury that could delay his debut.
The proposed transfer package is worth £65 million in total, comprising an initial payment of £60m and an additional £5m in performance-related add-ons. United had previously shown strong interest in signing the Cameroon international during last summer's transfer window but walked away after Brighton demanded a valuation exceeding £100 million.
Injury Timeline and Missed Matches
Baleba picked up the ankle issue during pre-season training and has missed a series of Brighton friendlies. While not considered serious, the injury is expected to keep him out for up to three weeks. That would see him miss Manchester United matches against Hull, Ipswich Town and Everton in the Premier League. His return could be in line for the Carabao Cup third round, though it will be tight for him to prove his fitness. The derby against Manchester City on September 13th is the next option for his return.
Transfer Background and Squad Overhaul
Baleba experienced a dip in his on-pitch performances last season. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler suggested that ongoing transfer rumours had negatively impacted the player's focus. If an agreement is reached, Baleba will become Manchester United's most expensive acquisition of the current summer. He would join other recent midfield signings, including Andrey Santos for £50m and Youri Tielemans for £35m.
This major midfield overhaul was intensified by Casemiro leaving the club on a free transfer. The situation was further complicated when Manuel Ugarte suffered a severe knee injury at the World Cup, necessitating more reinforcements. Michael Carrick recently highlighted the team's ongoing need for fresh talent while speaking to the press in Dublin, emphasising that the club is determined to keep improving the squad and is actively pushing for more additions.
