Transfer news: Man Utd close to £60m deal for Carlos Baleba
Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal with Brighton for Carlos Baleba, with the midfielder set for a medical.
The Cameroon international is expected to cost more than £60m, with a five-year contract ready to be signed once the transfer is formally completed.
Baleba is preparing to travel to Manchester, with the club hoping to finalise the deal swiftly.
The 22-year-old would become Man United's third midfield addition of the summer after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans as Michael Carrick continues to reshape his squad.
Baleba set for Man United medical
Man United have maintained their interest in Baleba since last year, having identified the midfielder as a potential long-term solution in the centre of the pitch.
The club also made an enquiry during the January transfer window, but a deal failed to materialise.
Baleba remained at Brighton and has since made 112 appearances for the club after joining from Lille in 2023.
He featured 35 times last season, although his campaign was interrupted by his involvement with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The midfielder is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during pre-season, although it is not expected to keep him sidelined for an extended period.
Brighton's valuation finally drops
Baleba's emergence at Brighton previously attracted significant interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, with the Seagulls understood to have placed a valuation of more than £100m on the midfielder.
Sky Sports' William Bitibiri described Baleba as a player who appeared to have "the world at his feet" following his breakthrough campaign, although his form subsequently dipped.
That decline contributed to Man United being able to negotiate a considerably lower fee than the valuation Brighton previously demanded.
Despite the concerns surrounding his recent form, Bitibiri believes Baleba remains stylistically well suited to what Man United need.
Carrick gets another midfield option
Baleba's arrival would give Carrick greater flexibility when selecting his midfield combinations.
His defensive ability and physical presence could allow him to operate at the base of the midfield, potentially freeing Tielemans and Bruno Fernandes to take up more advanced positions.
The transfer would also represent another significant investment in a Man United midfield that has undergone considerable change this summer.
Sky Sports' Tim Sherwood described Baleba as a "game-changing signing", while Man United's continued pursuit demonstrates the club's belief that the Brighton midfielder can become an important part of their long-term plans.
For now, the deal remains subject to final agreement and a medical, but Baleba is edging closer to becoming the latest major addition to Carrick's Man United rebuild.
READ NEXT: Transfer news: Man Utd insist Bruno Fernandes is not for sale amid Galatasaray interest
