Carlos Baleba is on his way to Old Trafford as the Red Devils close in on a £70M deal with Brighton

Manchester United are closing in on a major midfield signing, with Carlos Baleba reportedly on his way to Old Trafford as the club pushes ahead with a deal that could significantly reshape Michael Carrick’s midfield.

The agreement with Brighton is understood to be worth £65 million in guaranteed payments, with a further £5 million available through performance-related add-ons, potentially taking the total value of the transfer to £70 million. Brighton are also set to retain a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.

Baleba is expected to travel to Manchester as United move into the final stages of the transfer. The Cameroon international will need to complete his medical before the deal can be formally concluded, with the remaining paperwork and contract signing expected to follow if everything goes according to plan.

There is, however, a minor fitness concern surrounding the midfielder. Baleba picked up an ankle ligament injury during pre-season, although the issue is reportedly not considered serious enough to cause a lengthy absence.

United’s pursuit of Baleba has also been a long-standing one. The club previously considered signing the midfielder when Brighton were believed to be demanding a fee of around £115 million. This time, United have apparently negotiated a considerably lower guaranteed fee, potentially saving close to £50 million compared with the valuation that previously made a deal difficult.

At only 22 years old, Baleba already possesses significant Premier League experience. He joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and has since developed into one of the division’s most promising young midfielders, making more than 90 Premier League appearances and becoming an important figure in Brighton’s engine room.

His potential arrival would further underline the scale of United’s midfield rebuild. With Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos already brought in this summer, Baleba would become another significant addition as the club looks to create a midfield that is more physical, energetic and capable of controlling matches.

The Cameroonian’s qualities could provide United with something they have lacked for some time. His strength, ability to recover possession, ball-carrying, defensive work and capacity to cover large areas of the pitch could add a completely different dimension to the team. It could also reduce the burden on Bruno Fernandes, allowing United’s attacking players to operate with greater freedom while Baleba handles much of the defensive and physical work in midfield.

However, a potential £70 million transfer will inevitably bring enormous expectations. United supporters will demand far more than eye-catching tackles and powerful runs. Baleba will be expected to deliver consistency, composure and performances capable of demonstrating why the club was willing to make such a substantial investment in him.

If he adapts quickly to the demands of playing for Manchester United, the move could prove to be one of the defining pieces of the club’s ongoing rebuild. Rather than simply adding another midfielder, United would be investing in a 22-year-old who could potentially become a central figure in their midfield for many years.

First comes the medical. Then the final paperwork and contract. After that, the signature could make it official.

The next chapter will begin when Carlos Baleba finally pulls on the Manchester United shirt.