Carlos Baleba: Ruben Amorim 'pushing' for Manchester United to complete £120m summer transfer | OneFootball

Red Devils are also said to be keen on signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton

Ruben Amorim is pushing for Manchester United to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton to accelerate a midfield rebuild.

Now attentions have turned towards overhauling the midfield department.

Baleba is said to have been identified by Amorim as the perfect addition to the Man United squad given Manuel Ugarte’s inconsistent performances in addition to Casemiro not getting any younger.

Although it has been reported that the Red Devils have seen a first bid for the 21-year-old rejected as Brighton have little interest in selling the Cameroon international.

However, the Independent insist Man United are still actively trying to complete a deal for Baleba in this window, and the Seagulls are understood to want around £120m.

The report states that the United hierarchy are currently figuring out how to construct a payment package, with one consideration to offer an initial £80m with the rest made up of add-ons.

Furthermore, it has been claimed that the Red Devils will almost certainly try again for Baleba next summer if they can’t strike an agreement with Brighton before the current window slams shut.

The club’s long-term plan is to pair Baleba with Adam Wharton in midfield. In fact, it has been suggested that United may try for the Crystal Palace star this summer but are aware he would could cost even more.

Meanwhile they also acknowledge Palace chairman Steve Parish would be unwilling to do business given that he could yet lose Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze.

Other midfield alternatives are said to include Sporting's Morten Hjumland - who previously worked under Amorim - and Atalanta's Ederson, albeit in a slightly different role.