Liverpool have reportedly thrown their hat into the ring for Carlos Baleba, intensifying the battle for the Brighton midfielder as Manchester United also circle. According to Fabrizio Romano, the race could come down to whether clubs are willing to meet a hefty £104m valuation, with any potential deal likely taking time to materialise.
Baleba’s rapid rise has made him one of the most sought-after young talents in the Premier League, attracting attention from multiple top sides. Earlier in the week, it emerged that Manchester United had shifted focus towards the 20-year-old after edging Newcastle United to land Benjamin Sesko—adding him to a summer haul that already included Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. But Brighton’s belief that they can command a fee north of £100m could put the midfielder beyond United’s reach, especially as their transfer spending has already soared to around £200m, with only Marcus Rashford departing from their so-called “bomb squad.”
The competition, however, is far from one-sided. Reports claim Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have both entered the chase for Baleba. Liverpool, in particular, may be better placed financially to seal another big signing, with Harvey Elliott expected to follow Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Jarell Quansah out of Anfield to help balance the books after their own £150m outlay. The Reds have already brought in Hugo Ekitke, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong but are still targeting a striker, winger, midfielder, and possibly a centre-back before the window closes.
For Liverpool, Baleba is viewed as a perfect long-term fit, especially with Wataru Endo nearing the twilight of his career. Romano noted that while Manchester United remain in contact with Brighton over the player, their immediate priority is Sesko. Brighton, meanwhile, are in no rush to sell, and any meaningful talks could be delayed until next summer—potentially after the World Cup—unless an irresistible offer lands on their table.
I can also rewrite this in a more punchy, transfer-rumour style if you want it to feel like a breaking-news scoop.
