Online Reporter
MANCHESTER UNITED are growing increasingly confident of securing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in the summer window.
The Red Devils plan to restructure their midfield and hire a permanent head coach at the end of the season.
United are unlikely to reinforce their squad in the January window under interim gaffer Michael Carrick, who will be in the dugout for the club’s final 17 games of the campaign.
Before Ineos arrived, United chose not to bring in any signings when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick held caretaker titles in the 2019 and 2022 winter windows.
But, according to well-placed sources, United are becoming more optimistic about prising Baleba away from the Amex in the summer.
The 22-year-old central midfielder is tied to Brighton until 2028 but his stock has dropped since United’s interest surfaced last year.
Baleba has been subbed off at half-time on SEVEN occasions this season, including four times by Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler and three times with his national team. The Seagulls knocked down United’s enquiry last summer and deputy chairman Paul Barber has recently insisted there are no immediate plans to sell Baleba.
Baleba was valued at £80million-£100m in August 2025 and United did not put forward an official bid, having already spent over £200m on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko − Sun.
