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Attacking Football

·24 July 2026

Attacking Football

·24 July 2026

MU

Manchester United The Red Devils

Transfer news

Manchester United’s chase for Carlos Baleba is still alive this summer. The club, as has already been reported, are keeping their plans closely guarded, but sources have told AttackingFootball today that a move for the midfielder is still a genuine possibility.

United supporters are anxious about the chance of Aurelien Tchouameni joining the club this summer, but Baleba is still a player the club could, and may, turn to. Links with Tchouameni have started to intensify again this evening because of the possibility of Real Madrid signing Rodri.

The belief is that if Rodri signs, one of Eduardo Camavinga or Tchouameni would leave. The wider view is that Camavinga would be the one to go, with Tchouameni said to be close to agreeing a new contract with the Spanish club.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Carlos Baleba of Brighton during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at Amex Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Baleba was willing to join United last summer, and as Fabrizio Romano reported today, the player and his camp are still open to the move taking place this summer. United have not yet taken a final call, and AttackingFootball must stress that we have been told nothing concrete has happened so far, but the deal is still possible this summer without any doubt.

The main question around the transfer will be the fee. How much will Brighton ask for? Last summer it was believed £100m would bring the Seagulls to the negotiation table, but that could change this summer after a dip in form for large parts of last season. That dip in form may have been linked to Baleba wanting a move to United so strongly that it affected his performances. The Cameroon international is a player who fits many of the things United need, and arguably makes as much sense as a deal for Aurelien Tchouameni.

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Beyond Baleba and Tchouameni, Sander Berge is said to be another player the club admire. Clear links are hard to find, though, because as we have already mentioned, United have cut down a lot of leaks this summer as they try to operate quietly. They have already done that in deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, and will be aiming to do the same for the rest of the summer if possible.

For now, it is a deal that could still happen, and it certainly does not feel like the club have ruled it out yet. Brighton are unlikely to block the player’s exit this summer, but they will certainly be a tough club to negotiate with, as they always are. United have only ever negotiated with Brighton for Toby Collyer, and stayed away from negotiations for players like Marc Cucurella when they were interested in the past.

There is a chance Baleba could push for the move if his camp do reach out to United today and the club do eventually come to the negotiation table in the coming weeks. Nothing concrete has been decided by the Reds yet, as they are likely looking to assess the market to make sure the direction they choose is the right one.

The Manchester club will need to bring in a third midfielder to replace the injured Manuel Ugarte and the departed Casemiro. Ederson from Atalanta appeared to be a player the Reds were set to sign, but a failed medical meant Michael Carrick’s side changed course. Ederson was left heartbroken, but has since signed a new deal at Atalanta, easing the setback.

No final decision has been taken as of now, but Baleba remains a deal that is not dead yet, and is definitely one to keep an eye on in the final months of the season.