Manchester United are advancing in talks with Brighton to secure the signing of midfielder Carlos Baleba as the summer transfer window enters its final stages. The Red Devils have maintained a long-standing interest in the 22-year-old Cameroon international, with club figures expressing growing optimism that a deal valued around 70 million pounds can finally be struck.
"Negotiations were ongoing in the last few days again for Carlos Baleba, and while there is still no official club-to-club agreement, the feeling remains that Manchester United are very close," transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano noted regarding the ongoing structural talks over add-ons and payment terms.
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SubscribeThe potential arrival of Baleba would mark a significant addition to Michael Carrick's midfield department, following earlier acquisitions like Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Jason Wilcox has reportedly been driving the pursuit behind the scenes, capitalizing on long-term tracking that dates back over a year when Brighton's initial valuation proved too steep.
Brighton CEO Paul Barber has chosen to remain tight-lipped on the specifics of the imminent negotiations, acknowledging that the club always evaluates sensible offers that make financial sense while balancing sporting ambitions across domestic and European competitions.
Carrick Teases Potential Further Squad Reinforcements
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has refused to rule out the possibility of making further additions beyond Carlos Baleba before the transfer window slams shut. The club's leadership is actively looking to maximize opportunities to strengthen the squad's depth across multiple positions.
Recent speculation has heavily linked the Red Devils with a potential move for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde as the club seeks to manage Luke Shaw's workload ahead of their upcoming Champions League campaign.
"We're certainly working towards strengthening the squad, making the most of the situation that we have and trying to improve things," Carrick stated when questioned about potential defensive reinforcements before the deadline.
With upcoming matches testing squad resilience, United's hierarchy is determined to finish the window significantly stronger than they started, with total summer spending potentially climbing further as additional targets are evaluated.