The Brighton chairman, Tony Bloom, has sent Manchester United a message regarding their transfer target Carlos Baleba. Fabrizio Romano explained their alternative options.
Manchester United’s summer recruitment has solely focused on attacking reinforcements, but with just shy of three weeks left in the window, their attentions are now being turned elsewhere.
Ruben Amorim’s side addressed their goal-scoring concerns by adding Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to their ranks, but now the time has come to address any other issues within the squad.
After the first pre-season game against Leeds United, Amorim publicly stated a need for additional midfield depth, but with only a matter of days until the new Premier League campaign, that request has yet to be granted.
This being said, the Red Devils have ambitiously set their sights on Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, who is believed to cost a fee in excess of £100million.
Brighton chairman’s clear message
As reported by TBR Football, the Brighton chairman, Tony Bloom, is insisting that he does not want to sell Baleba despite interest from United.
The report states that, “Brighton owner Tony Bloom does not want to sell this summer, and what Tony Bloom wants, more often than not, he gets his way.
“Brighton are firm in their stance on Baleba – it has not changed in recent days.
“Brighton have not planned on a Baleba sale in any way this month, and I am told that to go and get him is going to take Moises Caicedo-type money – well over £100million for Baleba.
“If United come with that sort of offer, then analytically thinking Brighton would have to consider it – every player has a price and at some point you sell – but they are not anticipating that sort of offer from United.”
Romano confirms alternative options
With Baleba fetching a pretty penny, United may have to look at alternative options for their midfield depth. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that this may be the case.
In his latest GIVEMESPORT newsletter, the football insider stated that, “they will have alternatives as every top club does, but at the moment they’re still trying for Baleba, still not easy.”
The aforementioned report by TBR Football addressed these potential alternatives, as they revealed six cheaper names that United are eyeing.
These names included the likes of Morten Hjulmand from Sporting, Angelo Stiller from VFB Stuttgart, Valencia’s Javi Guerra, Athletic Club’s Mikel Jauregizar, AS Monaco’s Lamine Camara, and Lucien Agoume from Sevilla.
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