Evening Standard
·13 August 2025
Manchester United form Carlos Baleba transfer plan after Brighton star confirms career dream

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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·13 August 2025
A record fee will be required to land one of Europe’s brightest young talents
Manchester United are formulating a plan to sign Carlos Baleba in a record transfer this summer.
Ruben Amorim is keen to bolster his midfield, having transformed his forward line with the additions of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to the tune of £200million.
Baleba, considered one of the brightest young talents in the world, is top of his wishlist and, according to reports, an opening player-plus-cash bid has already been rejected.
A second bid is expected and Baleba, The Guardian report, has privately made clear his desire to move to Old Trafford.
Publicly, Baleba has been clear about his desires. He told the same publication earlier this season: "I want to be a big midfielder, to be a legend, across the world."
Brighton are expected to demand a record fee for an African player, which currently stands at the £72million Arsenal paid for transfer flop Nicolas Pepe. It would likely cost more than £100m to strike a deal.
So, The Guardian adds, a transfer plan is forming at United.
With Chelsea widely expected to sign Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund attracting plenty of interest from AC Milan, United's coffers are set to be boosted before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
Amorim will hope to also wave goodbye to outcasts Antony and Jadon Sancho, how many not demand signficant transfer fees but getting their bloated wages off the outgoings would further strengthen United's financial standing.