Carlos Baleba is unlikely to remain at Brighton for the long-term amid interest from Man United in the Cameroonian.
Manchester United are prepared to delay a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba until next year.
United have not completely given up on signing the 21-year-old before the transfer window closes on September 1 but senior sources concede a deal is unlikely.
External sources have suggested a deal this summer is “too difficult”. Baleba is under contract at Brighton until 2028, with the option of another year, and the club sold midfielder Moises Caicedo to Chelsea in 2023 for a then-British record £115million.
Baleba would be keen to join United but he is valued at around £100m by Brighton. United have already invested more than £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko this summer.
United still intend to reinforce their midfield as Toby Collyer is set to join West Bromwich Albion on loan. Collyer would prefer to stay but United want him to play regularly in the Championship.
There was some surprise that United did not move for midfielder Joao Palhinha before he joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Bayern Munich. Palhinha, 30, played under United head coach Ruben Amorim at Sporting, excelled in the Premier League with Fulham and United have recruited three players from Bayern within the last three years.
Agency sources said United would prefer to permanently sign a midfielder rather than bring one in on loan. Spurs have an option to buy Palhinha for £27m.
An obstacle to United bolstering their midfield remains Casemiro. The MEN previously reported that four different figures were given a mandate to sell the 33-year-old but he is set to see out the final year of his contract.
United have not received any concrete offers for Casemiro, who would have to be sold for £15m to avoid a loss under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
Casemiro’s contract expires next year and United have the option of an additional year but will almost certainly ignore it.
United recruited Manuel Ugarte on transfer deadline day last year with the intention of him becoming their long-term defensive midfielder. However, the £50.75m signing has underwhelmed and lost his place to Casemiro towards the end of last season.
Ugarte, 24, had a mixed pre-season, shining against West Ham United in New Jersey before struggling against Everton in Atlanta. Ugarte started in two of United’s five pre-season games.
Amorim has to decide whether to play Bruno Fernandes with Ugarte or Casemiro in United’s opening Premier League fixture against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
£43
£35
Sky
Get Sky Sports here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.