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Manchester United still have plenty to sort out after their surprise defeat at Hull on the opening day, but the club are now closing in on a major addition in midfield.

United agreed a deal with Brighton on Friday night for Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, with the package worth an initial £65million up front plus another £5m in add-ons. Brighton are also understood to have kept a sell-on clause in the agreement.

Baleba is reported to have completed a medical on Saturday, with transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano saying on Sunday morning that all the necessary paperwork has now been exchanged and signed by both clubs.

He also said the move was now “100 per cent confirmed”, with an official announcement expected shortly as Baleba prepares to sign a five-year contract running until the summer of 2031.

United supporters may still have to wait a little before seeing Baleba on the pitch, though, as he is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury picked up during Brighton’s pre-season friendly win over Strasbourg earlier this month.

The problem was expected to rule him out for the opening few weeks of the season, which means he would not have featured in Brighton’s Premier League opener at home to Aston Villa on Sunday in any case, regardless of the transfer to United.

The same applies to Liverpool target Yankuba Minteh, who had surgery on his right leg after suffering an injury while playing for Brighton against Roma and may not be back until October, or possibly even November.

Manchester United are signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a £70m transfer.

It is still unclear exactly when Baleba will be ready to make his debut under Michael Carrick, though there are suggestions it could come around the middle of September.

After forthcoming matches against Ipswich and Everton, United — who were beaten 2-0 by newly-promoted Hull on the opening day — host Manchester City in the first derby of the season at Old Trafford on September 13, before travelling to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham on September 20.

That is followed by an extended three-week international break, after which they return to Premier League action at home to Tottenham on October 10.

Baleba will become the third new midfielder signed by United this summer, after the £50m arrival of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and the £35m move for Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, with both players having started against Hull on Saturday.

United’s additions in midfield have been necessary after Casemiro left when his contract expired in July, while Manuel Ugarte — who may also have moved on — is facing months out after surgery on a serious knee injury suffered with Uruguay at the World Cup.

Overall, Baleba will be the club’s fourth first-team signing of the transfer window, with Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow also having arrived on a free transfer following his departure from Leeds.

He has been a long-term target for United, who had first wanted to sign Bryan Mbeumo’s international team-mate last summer but were reportedly quoted a far higher fee of more than £100m.