Man United board finally satisfy fans after agreeing fee to sign Cameroonian star

United intensified their pursuit of the Cameroon international this week, seeking to further bolster their midfield options after securing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa earlier in the window. 

The move addresses the gap left by the departure of veteran Brazilian Casemiro, whose contract expired at the end of last season.

Baleba is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during a pre-season training camp in Austria. Despite the injury, his enthusiasm for a move to Manchester is said to have accelerated the negotiations.

According to reports, a breakthrough in negotiations occurred on Friday evening, paving the way for the 22-year-old to undergo a medical at Old Trafford this weekend. 

The initial fee is set at £65 million, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons. Brighton have also secured a sell-on clause as part of the transfer.

This transfer represents a significant saving for United, who faced a much higher asking price from Brighton as the 2025 transfer deadline loomed. 

The acquisition of Baleba is expected to inject additional athleticism into Michael Carrick's squad. It also raises questions about whether United will continue their search for a dedicated left-back to provide competition for Luke Shaw. 

Baleba, a left-footed player, has occasionally filled in at that position, and right-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have also been deployed on the left, potentially offering Carrick the cover he requires.

United's midfield plans were also affected by a serious knee injury to Manuel Ugarte, who had been expected to leave this summer but was sidelined while on international duty with Uruguay.