Manchester United Suffer Transfer Blow as Brighton Slam Door on Carlos Baleba

Manchester United’s interest in midfielder Carlos Baleba has ended up in smoke after Brighton and Hove Albion maintained their stance that they will not sell him this summer.

Baleba has been on United’s radar this summer as they look to bolster their midfield and were thought to be weighing up a record transfer that would go just above £100m million.

After talks with the player’s representatives, which indicated that he was ready to move to Old Trafford, United approached Brighton on Friday to try and understand what it would take to buy the midfielder.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

However, according to The Athletic, the Premier League club were categorical that Baleba is not for sale this summer and refused to even put a price on him.

It is believed Brighton view Baleba as a key part of their project this season and want him around for at least another year but will be willing to listen to offers next year, hence their hardline stance.

That has forced United to walk away as they were also not interested in a long-drawn-out saga that would end with them missing out on their target.

The Red Devils are thought to have other targets in mind and will now turn their focus to them as central midfield is a problematic position that coach Ruben Amorim is keen to fix ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

A weak midfield was one of the reasons for United’s poor campaign last season and it is believed the coach lacks faith in Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte who are the two options in the defensive midfield role.