Manchester United’s long and winding search for a third midfielder appears to be entering its final stretch after a bid for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was submitted.
United lodged an opening offer of £60m plus an additional £5m for the Cameroonian, though that figure is not expected to be sufficient to conclude the deal immediately.
Despite that, talks are continuing between the two clubs and the expectation within the game is that a transfer will ultimately be completed.
United had privately played down interest in Baleba, making his emergence as their primary target something of a surprise to outside observers.
Much of the groundwork, however, was actually laid 12 months ago, when United first made an approach for Baleba before backing off after discovering the asking price would exceed £100m.
With that context in mind, the eventual deal may prove considerably more straightforward now that market conditions have shifted considerably in United’s favour.
The search for a third midfielder had, at various points, appeared to take on a life of its own, with Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Roma’s Manu Kone, Fulham’s Sander Berge, and Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams all linked to Old Trafford.
Baleba’s primary strength is his ability to cover ground quickly, something that was identified as a clear gap following United’s defeat by AC Milan in Wroclaw at the weekend, which exposed a lack of energy in a traditional box-to-box role.
Manager Michael Carrick has already signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa within 24 hours of each other last month, reshaping a midfield that had looked threadbare heading into the summer.
The squad had been left light in that department following the departure of veteran Brazilian Casemiro, whose contract expired on 30 June, and with Manuel Ugarte not rated highly despite his £50.8m price tag.
Kobbie Mainoo was considered the only experienced midfielder likely to play a prominent role in the 2026-27 season before the recent signings were concluded.
Santos has impressed in pre-season by screening the defence effectively, while Tielemans brings composure, an excellent passing range, and a desire to improve his goals output.
There has also been consideration given to Mason Mount as a potential third-midfield option following his excellent early pre-season form, but a foot injury sustained during the encounter with Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg on 8 August has delayed his return and only heightened existing concerns about his fitness record.
If the Baleba deal is completed, and once he recovers from an ankle injury expected to keep him out for another couple of weeks, Carrick will have considerable variety at his disposal, including Scotland World Cup squad member Tyler Fletcher.
Carrick was clear about the squad’s direction of travel last week, stating simply: “We want more, we need more.”
The manner in which United have pursued their targets this summer also reflects a notable shift in the club’s recruitment approach, with deals for Santos and Tielemans each wrapped up within a week.
The process stands in stark contrast to the protracted and ultimately failed pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong in 2022, when the club spent much of the summer chasing a deal before eventually admitting defeat well into August.
Of the four players signed in 2025, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have settled seamlessly, which is believed to have reinforced a preference for Premier League-proven recruitment this summer.
Despite Baleba potentially arriving, it is widely accepted at Old Trafford that a new left-back remains an acute priority before the transfer window closes.
