Man Utd know Carlos Baleba reality after £18.6m transfers as message sent after new talks

Daily Mirror

11 hours ago

Manchester United have been handed a lifeline in their efforts to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton this summer, with the Seagulls seemingly well-covered to cash in
If Manchester United are to get their hands on Carlos Baleba this month, Brighton won't be left entirely high and dry. In fact, Fabian Hurzeler's squad may already boast the replacements needed to fill any void following reports of fresh talks with the Red Devils.
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Having invested around £200million in a new front three, United have turned their attention to strengthening their midfield – and Brighton's box-to-box enforcer leads their wish-list. The Sun report United are persevering in new talks with Baleba's representatives despite Brighton insisting on a fee to rival the £115m Chelsea paid to sign Moises Caicedo two years ago.
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It's all part of the process that has made the Seagulls the envy of many teams in the transfer market in recent years – recruit prospects young, build them into first-team stars, sell for a hefty profit, and repeat.
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With United keen on Brighton's latest top talent, Baleba appeared to send a subtle message to the club's fans over the weekend too, by giving a timely like to Leny Yoro's post on Instagram. The pair are good pals, having played at Ligue 1 side Lille together before Baleba left to sign for Brighton, and it remains to be seen if they will yet be reunited at Old Trafford.
Just as Baleba has thrived in the role that once made the likes of Caicedo and Yves Bissouma such a success at the Amex Stadium, he too has successors-in-waiting. And just like Baleba, it may not take more than a season or two to make it clear Brighton may have unearthed even more special talent, at least if their model's recent success is anything to go by.
Despite having yet to truly break through in England, midfield prospects Diego Gomez and Malick Yalcouye are the ones to watch in Baleba's position at the base of midfield. Gomez in particular has already made an impression following his £11m move from Inter Miami this past January.
"When I saw him running - he was running during our training sessions – I saw a beast," Hurzeler said of the player when speaking in January. "[It] is unbelievable how intense he can play football, and he proved it in the MLS.
"Of course, it is a different league, different profile. But in the end, it is exactly that what we want to have – physicality. We needed this physicality." The German tactician went on to say he was "really happy" with the Paraguayan's attitude and "really looking forward to working with him."
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Gomez, 22, made 16 Premier League appearances during the second half of last season and scored his first goal for the club on the final day of the campaign. He also boasts 15 senior caps for Paraguay already, having made his full international debut at 19.
Yalcouye, 19, is in a different stage of his development having only made his debut for the Ivory Coast's Under-23s side this summer.
The teenager joined Brighton in July 2024 from Swedish outfit Goteborg for £7.6m – meaning Yalcouye and Gomez only cost Brighton a collective £18.6m – before an impressive loan spell with Austrian side Sturm Graz last season.
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Mali-born Yalcouye offers slightly different dimensions at around 5'7", though he offers a versatile game of his own. Despite joining Brighton as a central midfielder, he spent the majority of his time in Austria out wide on either wing, scoring four goals and contributing two assists in 26 league games.
And it's not as though Hurzeler's midfield alternatives are restricted to the pair of prospects. Mats Wieffer, Matt O'Riley, Yasin Ayari and Jack Hinshelwood are among those to have shared midfield minutes with Baleba last season, with each capable of fulfilling more defensive duties in that area.
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None of that may influence Brighton's toughened stance over selling Baleba, but the volume of alternative solutions may make the south-coast club more appeasable to a deal.
Nothing changes from United's perspective, meanwhile, as affording such a move towards the end of an already expensive window becomes their main priority. Amorim knows United need to offload more players this month, with Chelsea currently in talks over winger Alejandro Garnacho.