Report: Man United yet to make contact with Brighton over midfield target | OneFootball

Manchester United Linked with Brighton Midfielder Carlos Baleba

Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth has reported that Manchester United have not yet made any official contact with Brighton regarding midfielder Carlos Baleba. The 21-year-old Cameroonian, highly rated for his physicality and technical ability, remains under contract at the Amex Stadium for another three years, with Brighton holding an option for a further year.

According to Sheth, United’s “focus is on sales – or at least an assurance sales will happen in the final 19 days of the window”. This approach reflects the club’s current transfer strategy, which prioritises generating funds before making significant additions to the squad.

Why Baleba is a Difficult Target

Brighton are under no financial pressure to sell, and Sheth makes it clear that “it’s clearly an extremely difficult deal to do as Brighton do not want to sell”. The Seagulls have developed a reputation for extracting top value for their players, with examples such as Moisés Caicedo and Cucurella in recent windows.

Photo: IMAGO

Any potential pursuit of Baleba would require what Sheth calls “encouragement the player wanted to join” before United even consider a formal approach. This mirrors the approach taken with Benjamin Šeško earlier in the summer, where interest was explored but no formal bid was made without clear player intent.

Transfer Window Context

With just 19 days left in the window, United’s hierarchy must balance financial realities with squad needs. They are still working on offloading fringe players to create room in the wage bill and the squad list. Baleba, at his age and profile, fits the mould of a long-term investment – but the timing and Brighton’s stance make it an unlikely short-term move.

Possible Long-Term Play

If United’s summer sales progress as planned, and if Baleba signals openness to a move, this could be a player to watch for future windows. Brighton’s resistance is strong, but market dynamics can shift quickly in football.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Manchester United supporter’s perspective, this feels like another case of cautious ambition. On paper, Carlos Baleba would tick many boxes – young, energetic, Premier League-proven, and with room to develop under Ruben Amorim. Yet the reality is that United are constrained by the need to sell before they can seriously bid for players in this bracket.

Fans will recognise the familiar frustration here: interest in a promising talent but no decisive action due to budgetary limits and existing contracts. Brighton’s reluctance is entirely understandable – they’ve just lost key players in recent seasons and will want to keep their young core intact.

For United, the comparison to the Šeško situation is telling. Supporters saw a similar “wait and see” approach that often results in missing out on targets. While some may argue that avoiding rash spending is wise, others will worry that hesitation could mean losing ground to rivals who are more proactive in the market.

In the short term, it’s unlikely this deal happens. But the club keeping tabs on Baleba suggests he could be a future target – especially if player desire changes or Brighton soften their stance. For now, patience is the word, but patience is rarely what United fans enjoy in transfer season.