Manchester United are unlikely to pursue Carlos Baleba any further this summer after the Brighton midfielder picked up an ankle ligament injury. The Reds have been monitoring the 22-year-old closely for the past couple of years as they sought to strengthen their engine room.
Midfield overhaul at Old Trafford
With Casemiro leaving as a free agent earlier this summer and Manuel Ugarte deemed surplus to requirements, United have already spent big. They have brought in Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a £48 million move, as well as Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million.
While there is still a chance that manager Michael Carrick would like another proven talent to bolster his midfield ahead of September's deadline, it now appears that Baleba will not be an option. The Cameroonian has picked up an ankle ligament issue and is a doubt for the start of the new season.
Previous interest and price tag
United were linked with a swoop for Baleba 12 months ago following a standout season under Fabian Hurzeler at the Amex. However, a £100 million price tag proved far too high at the time, especially with United needing reinforcement in other areas of the pitch.
Instead, the club opted to sign Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to address a limited attacking output. That move paid dividends as the Reds secured a third-place Premier League finish, largely through Carrick's succession of Ruben Amorim in January.
Other targets on the radar
While Baleba has not been as strongly linked with a move this summer, as United have explored other avenues, there was still a chance interest could have been reignited for the right price. Now, however, it appears he will stay put due to injury.
United have been linked with a number of top talents as they look to progress in the Premier League and challenge for the Champions League in 2026/27. Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga have been touted to move from Real Madrid, while Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez has emerged as a shock potential target.
The centre of the park is not the only area where United will look for reinforcements. Newcastle United's Lewis Hall is on the radar as they plan for life without Luke Shaw, while Shakhtar Donetsk's Kaua Elias has reportedly been scouted as a centre-forward alternative.
