Rúben Amorim has been very specific with Manchester United’s board as they ramp up a pursuit for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.
Manchester United have committed around £130 million this summer to sign Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Bryan Mbeumo.
The only major outgoing so far has been Marcus Rashford, who has joined Barcelona on a season-long loan. The agreement is believed to include a £30 million option to make the move permanent in June 2026.
The club are also looking to sell Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho in the coming weeks in an effort to generate funds for at least three further arrivals.
If the budget permits, United are targeting reinforcements in goal, midfield and up front, with Benjamin Šeško of RB Leipzig the next name set to join the club for a £74 million package.
Once Šeško is through the door, United will turn their attention to signing a new midfielder to help hold down the fort alongside Bruno Fernandes.
United make shock approach for Baleba
United have made a formal approach to the camp of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, signalling genuine interest in a potential move, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Italian transfer specialist detailed that the club reached out to his representatives on Wednesday to express serious intent, though all parties involved acknowledge that any deal will be extremely difficult to complete.
Baleba is viewed as a key player by Brighton, who have no intention of selling him this summer. With less than a month remaining in the transfer window and the Premier League season about to begin, Brighton are determined to keep the 20-year-old as a central part of Fabian Hürzeler’s plans. As a result, the valuation will be high and negotiations, if they progress, will be far from straightforward.
Despite the obstacles, Baleba has not ruled out a move to Old Trafford. Romano reports that there has been no outright rejection from the player’s side and that a lack of European football at United has not been used as a reason to turn the club down.
While Brighton are resistant to a sale, United’s approach reflects their growing ambition in the market following moves for Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and the imminent arrival of Benjamin Šeško. Strengthening the midfield remains a key priority, and Carlos Baleba is now firmly on the radar.
Amorim has told United they must secure Baleba
Further, Romano clarified that Baleba is considered a “dream” target for Amorim. The Brighton midfielder perfectly fits the profile Amorim is looking for as he looks to shape his squad heading into his first full season in charge at Old Trafford.
Romano reveals that during Amorim’s initial meetings with United’s hierarchy last November, the word he emphasised most was “intensity.” Rather than focusing on specific names, Amorim outlined a clear vision for the type of players he wanted: those capable of bringing high energy and physical presence to his midfield. Baleba is now regarded as the epitome of those qualities.
While Manchester United have approached Baleba’s camp to express serious interest, a deal remains extremely difficult. Brighton have no intention of letting the 21-year-old go and see him as a crucial part of their plans under Fabian Hürzeler. With the season just days away and Brighton reluctant to sell, any potential transfer is expected to be highly complicated.
Despite this, Baleba has not closed the door on a move to United. The player’s camp have not rejected the idea and remain aware of United’s interest. For now, the challenge lies in negotiating with Brighton, but United’s pursuit highlights Amorim’s ambition to inject intensity and long-term quality into the heart of his midfield.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.