Carlos Baleba’s Camp Reaches Out to Manchester United Again

Carlos Baleba’s camp have moved first. Again.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s midfielder is back on Manchester United’s radar, not because the club have reignited the chase, but because those around the player have quietly knocked on the door at Old Trafford to see if last year’s dream can be revived.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Baleba’s representatives have approached United to gauge whether there is any appetite to return to negotiations after the move collapsed 12 months ago under the weight of Brighton’s demands.

From £100m roadblock to a £70m question

A year ago, United went hard for Baleba. He was the No 1 midfield target, personal terms were agreed and the path looked clear. Then they hit the wall: Brighton wanted £100million.

United walked away. Brighton kept their stance. The saga left a mark.

The transfer noise seeped into Baleba’s season. His form dipped in the opening months, his momentum stalled, and with it, his valuation. Now, at 22, the midfielder is understood to be available at closer to £70m – still a sizeable fee, but a very different conversation for any buying club.

For United, who have already spent around £85m this summer on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, the equation has changed. They have invested in technique and control. What they still crave is a relentless third midfielder, someone to anchor and bite, to let the others play.

Baleba has re-emerged as one of the answers on the recruitment board.

A dream parked, not forgotten

Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, painted the picture of a player who has never really let go of the idea of Old Trafford.

From his understanding, in August 2025 Baleba “was pushing like crazy to go to Man Utd.” The deal on the player’s side was done: personal terms agreed, the dream within touching distance. United saw him as a top target under then-coach Amorim. Brighton simply refused to sell.

When United and Amorim chose to part ways in January, that particular track went cold. Baleba’s name slipped out of the daily headlines. The club moved on to other priorities. The player did not.

Now his camp have put the name back in front of United’s hierarchy. Not with noise, but with a clear question: is there any chance to reopen talks?

The failed move for Ederson and other midfield developments across Europe have created a small opening. Baleba’s side want to know if United see it too.

United’s midfield puzzle

What is clear is that United are not done in midfield. The plan remains to add another defensive-minded option who can give structure and security behind Santos and Tielemans.

Baleba fits the profile. Young, aggressive, with Premier League experience and a year of turbulence that might just make him more attainable. Romano describes him as “super keen” on United. The club know this. They knew it a year ago.

But he is not the only name on the list.

Manu Kone, now at Roma, is a serious option and, as things stand, talks for him appear to be the most advanced. Sander Berge at Fulham offers a different, more physical route. Eduardo Camavinga is admired, though any move depends on Real Madrid’s stance and the knock-on from Aurelien Tchouameni, who is expected to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu.

Michael Carrick would love to prise Tchouameni out of Madrid, but that door looks set to slam shut, pushing United to look more closely at his team-mate Camavinga instead.

Then there is Alex Scott at Bournemouth, another player United rate highly. Bournemouth, though, are determined to keep him for at least another season, and they are behaving like a club that means it.

Decision time at Old Trafford

So United stand at a familiar crossroads: multiple targets, one vacancy, finite funds.

Baleba was high on the recruitment list a year ago. His price has dropped, his desire to join has not. His camp have made the first move, asking whether United are willing to come back to the table.

Now the decision rests where it always does – in the Old Trafford boardroom. Do they revive the pursuit of the midfielder who once pushed “like crazy” to wear their shirt, or does his name stay filed under “almost” while another candidate steps through the door?