Manchester United would be willing to give Brighton a player in exchange for Carlos Baleba.
Manchester United could offer a player-plus-cash deal to get Carlos Baleba, as Brighton have set a hefty price on their top player.
This summer, Manchester United spent big money to sign Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko.
Cunha cost £62.5 million after they activated the release option in his contract, while Mbeumo demanded a sum of up to £71 million.
Sesko, the club’s most recent acquisition, arrived at Old Trafford from RB Leipzig for £73.7 million.
Ruben Amorim is looking for further recruits ahead of the new season, specifically a new midfielder.
Amorim loves Brighton’s Baleba, who has thrived in the Premier League since joining from Lille in the summer of 2023.
Manchester United are ‘actively trying to clinch a deal’ for Baleba this summer, as Amorim seeks a’midfielder to hasten his rebuild’.
According to the Independent, Brighton is looking for roughly £120 million for Baleba, who wowed Manchester United fans with his social media activities during their friendly against Fiorentina last weekend.
However, Manchester United’s leadership is hesitant to accept Brighton’s asking price and is currently deciding how to structure a payment plan.
According to the report, one option is to provide an initial £80 million with the remainder made up of add-ons.
Man United would also be willing to transfer a player such as Jadon Sancho in exchange for the 21-year-old, however it is unlikely that Brighton would accept such an offer.
Sancho is deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United and has been linked with a transfer away, having spent the previous season on loan at Chelsea.
Amorim is determined to find a midfielder who fits in with the team, and Baleba has been identified as having the best profile.
What other midfield options are Manchester United looking into?
Man United is working behind the scenes to sign Baleba during this transfer window, and if they are unable to do so this summer, they will pursue him again next year.
The Cameroonian isn’t the only midfielder Amorim and Manchester United like; Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is regarded as the club’s preferred alternative.
Manchester United have also considered Sporting CP’s Morten Hjumland and Atalanta’s Ederson.
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