Manchester United have decided to walk away from signing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba this summer. But the 21-year-old has made it clear: his dream of playing at Old Trafford is far from over.
Talks between Manchester United and Brighton started earlier this month. United’s intermediaries first made contact, followed by direct discussions with Brighton. But the talks quickly hit a wall when Brighton set a massive price tag.
Brighton told United that it would take an offer of around £120 million for them to even consider selling Baleba. That figure is more than what they sold Moises Caicedo for when Chelsea paid £115m in 2023.
For Manchester United, that number was simply too high. They had already spent £207.5m on new signings: Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. All three are attacking players. The next priority for manager Ruben Amorim is a strong defensive midfielder, a role Baleba perfectly fits.
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However, United’s transfer team felt that paying £120m for a player who is still developing in the Premier League was too risky. Instead, they decided to pause the deal for now.
Despite this, Baleba’s stance is clear. He is willing to keep pushing for a move to United, even if it means waiting until next year. Sources close to the player confirmed that personal terms with United would not have been a problem.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has also spoken about the situation. On Friday, when asked about Baleba’s future, he said he was “very, very, very confident” the midfielder would stay. Asked why, Hurzeler replied simply: “Just my belief.”
Hurzeler also praised the player’s attitude. “I didn’t see any change in Baleba,” he told reporters. “He only changed his hair, so I think that was the only change he made the last two weeks. But overall, he seems to be in a really good place. He’s enjoying it with his team-mates, he’s enjoying being a Brighton player.”
The Brighton boss went further, saying: “He’s very grateful for the process he had last season. I didn’t see any big change. And he’s an option to start against Fulham.”
This shows that while Baleba dreams of Manchester United, he is not unhappy at Brighton. In fact, he is focused on improving and making an even bigger name for himself this season.
At Old Trafford, there is an acceptance that Baleba is still a developing talent. He has only played two full seasons in the Premier League, but his progress has been impressive. Many inside the club believe that waiting one more year could benefit both United and the player.
For Baleba, this season could be his chance to raise his value even further. If he continues to shine, United may come back next summer with a more serious offer. By then, Brighton may also be more open to negotiations.
What makes this story even more intriguing is Baleba’s determination. Few young players openly keep their desire to join a giant like Manchester United alive after a collapsed deal. Yet Baleba appears ready to hold on to that dream for as long as it takes.
The midfielder’s confidence, his willingness to wait, and his strong performances will make him one of the most watched players in the Premier League this season.
United fans will be keeping a close eye on his development. Many supporters believe that signing a defensive midfielder like Baleba is exactly what the team needs to balance their attack-heavy squad.
Meanwhile, Brighton fans can celebrate keeping one of their brightest stars for another year. For them, this is a win. Baleba stays, grows, and strengthens their midfield for the new campaign.
The transfer saga is not over. It is only delayed. Whether in January or next summer, Carlos Baleba’s name will return to Manchester United’s list of targets.
And when it does, the Red Devils may have no choice but to fight harder for the man who has already shown he wants to wear their famous red shirt.
For now, Baleba remains a Seagull. But deep inside, his eyes are still fixed firmly on Old Trafford.
