Carlos Baleba's Transfer Saga: Is Manchester United Still Interested?

Carlos Baleba’s camp has gone back to Manchester United. The message is simple: are you still interested?

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder’s representatives have contacted United to test whether last year’s failed move can be revived. For Baleba, it is an old dream being dragged back into the light.

A deal that once looked done

Twelve months ago, United made Baleba their priority midfield signing. Personal terms were agreed quickly; the player, Romano says, was “pushing like crazy” in August 2025 to make the transfer happen. He wanted Old Trafford. Badly.

United then hit the wall that so many clubs have met with Brighton. The Seagulls, riding high on their reputation as elite sellers, slapped a £100million price tag on a 22-year-old still learning his trade. United walked away.

The fallout was felt on the south coast. The transfer saga weighed on Baleba, whose performances dipped in the early months of last season. The hype cooled, the numbers did too, and so did the valuation. Brighton’s stance has softened to around £70m – still hefty, but no longer in the stratosphere.

United’s new midfield puzzle

United have not stood still. This summer they have already committed around £85m to Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, reshaping the heart of their team. Yet inside the club, there is a clear belief that one more midfielder is needed – a relentless, defensively strong presence to help them control games.

Baleba has moved back into that conversation.

Romano reports that the latest movement has come from the player’s side, not from Old Trafford. Baleba’s camp, aware of United’s search for a third midfielder and the collapse of other targets such as Ederson, have reached out again to see if the door is still open.

They want clarity. Is there a chance to restart talks? Or has United’s recruitment board moved on for good?

A name still high on the list

Inside United, Baleba has not been forgotten. He was, Romano stresses, “a top target” a year ago under the Amorim-focused planning. When United and Ruben Amorim decided in January not to continue discussions, the Baleba track went cold with it.

Now, with the manager situation settled and the squad being rebuilt, his name has resurfaced. The recruitment team still rate him highly. The player remains “super keen” on the move. The decision sits squarely with United.

The complication is choice. Baleba is one of several midfielders under serious consideration.

• Manu Kone, now at Roma, is believed to be the one United are progressing with most actively at this stage.
• Sander Berge at Fulham is on the list, a different profile but Premier League-proven.
• At the very top of the dream board sits Aurelien Tchouameni, the ideal signing in Michael Carrick’s eyes, but he is expected to sign a new contract with Real Madrid, pushing United to monitor his team-mate Eduardo Camavinga instead.
• Alex Scott at Bournemouth is another admired option, though Bournemouth are determined to keep him for at least another season.

Every path has a complication: price, availability, or the selling club’s ambition.

United’s call

So United stand at a familiar crossroads. They know Baleba. They know his camp wants the move. They know the price is still high, but no longer prohibitive. They also know there are other options, some cheaper, some more experienced, some less risky.

For Baleba, it is a second chance to chase the club he pushed so hard for last summer.

For United, it is a test of conviction. Do they return to the midfielder who once topped their list, or decide that last year’s window was his moment and it has passed?