Manchester United are weighing up a £50 million offer for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to reports. The 22-year-old Cameroonian has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for nearly a year, and the club are now ready to reignite their interest following Casemiro's impending departure at the end of the season.
It is understood that United 'broadly agreed personal terms' with Baleba during their initial pursuit. However, after spending over £200 million on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, the club put their pursuit on hold. Now, with Manuel Ugarte also failing to fully convince, United are prepared to test Brighton's resolve with a £50m bid.
Baleba has endured an inconsistent campaign, being substituted on 15 occasions by Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler and lasting the full 90 minutes just three times. Despite this, he impressed in their recent 3-0 win over Chelsea and was a key figure for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they reached the quarter-finals.
A potential stumbling block is Brighton's asking price. When United first registered their interest, the Seagulls demanded £100 million, comparable to the fee Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo. While United were prepared to go up to £75m in the summer, they are now reluctant to exceed £50m, a figure unlikely to be accepted by Brighton.
United have also been linked with Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, and Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. The club are targeting two central midfield signings to replace Casemiro, with a third possible if Ugarte leaves. These negotiations may also depend on who manages the club next season, with interim boss Michael Carrick's future uncertain despite guiding United from seventh to third.
