Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba(Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
Manchester United’s summer transfer window has been busier than expected having missed out on European football this term.
Four new faces have arrived in the squad for the new Premier League campaign which kicks off on Sunday at home to Arsenal. However, reports suggest that incomings have not finished at the Theatre of Dreams with midfield now seen as the priority to fix before the September 1 deadline.
The player believed to be at the top of the wishlist this summer is Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba. The Seagulls’ Cameroonian has caught attention from across Europe and United are the ones thought to be pushing hard to sign him.
With this in mind, MEN Sport has rounded up the latest on Baleba’s future below.
Transfer stance
MEN Sport understands that while United are not completely ruling out a move for Baleba this summer, they are willing to postpone their approach until next year. Sources surrounding the club insist that a deal is unlikely before the deadline.
While this may seem like a blow, there is a belief that Baleba would be interested in moving to Old Trafford when the opportunity arises.
£100m valuation
Backing up our understanding, The Telegraph reported this week that Brighton value Baleba at more than £100m. The Seagulls will undoubtedly be coming to this conclusion due to the then English transfer record fee Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo.
Such a figure will be out of United’s budget, you would imagine. It also adds up with Brighton’s stance that they do not want to sell Baleba in this window.
Confident prediction
Perhaps adding more weight to Baleba staying on the south coast this window, his manager Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking about the chances of his midfielder leaving. He responded in his press conference: “I am very, very confident Baleba will stay with us.”
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