Man United 'make contact' over Carlos Baleba deal: How realistic is a transfer? How much would the midfielder cost?

Manchester United have reportedly made contact with Brighton & Hove Albion through intermediaries to register their interest in signing Carlos Baleba during this summer's transfer window.

The Red Devils are closing in on the signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the Slovenia international set to become the club's third major arrival of the current market.

However, midfield is an area that the club want to strengthen this summer, with head coach Ruben Amorim admitting during pre-season that the team have weaknesses in the middle of the park.

Baleba was outstanding for Brighton during the 2024-25 campaign, with the 21-year-old putting in a string of excellent performances, and he is believed to be on the radar of a number of major clubs.

According to transfer expert David Ornstein, Man United have made contact with Brighton through intermediaries to determine the conditions of a deal.

Man United want Baleba to be their next 'major signing'

Ornstein claims that Brighton are against a sale, and Man United have accepted that they may fail in their approach, but the Red Devils have made him their top target for the remainder of the window, as a deal for Sesko is almost complete.

Fellow transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also commented on the potential deal, revealing that the Red Devils have been asked to be 'informed on the player's situation'.

Romano has also called the transfer 'difficult' due to the numbers involved, with Brighton expected to fight to keep hold of the player who arrived at the Amex from Lille in the summer of 2023.

Baleba has made 77 appearances for the Seagulls, scoring four times and registering two assists, including four goals and two assists in 40 outings in all competitions during the 2024-25 campaign.

Would Baleba be a good signing for Man United?

Amorim has boosted his attack with the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha this summer, while Sesko will soon arrive to give Man United another dimension in the final third of the field.

Man United are still short in central midfield, though, as they lack a powerhouse in that area of the field, and Baleba could be a transformative signing for the 20-time English champions.

Baleba is an outstanding defensive midfielder, boasting incredible energy and speed across the turf, but his ability in possession is also excellent, with the Cameroonian a terrific passer of a football.

The midfielder is capable of driving the team forward due to his dribbling abilities, and Amorim wants a player who can escape difficult situations in midfield, so Baleba certainly fits the brief.

Brighton have him on a contract until June 2028, though, with the option of a further 12 months, and it is not impossible to imagine him being valued in the region of £85m by the Seagulls due to his skillset.