Brighton drop Carlos Baleba asking price by £20m+, opening door for Man United

Brighton are prepared to lower their valuation of Carlos Baleba by more than £20m, creating a potential opening for Manchester United as they pursue midfield reinforcements for next season.

The Cameroonian midfielder, who joined Brighton from Lille in 2023, has strong ties to Cameroon and will soon join his national team for AFCON preparations.

He has become a central figure in Fabian Hurzeler’s side, impressing with his physicality and composure since arriving in the Premier League.

Baleba’s future, however, has taken a new twist. Reports from Sky Sports Switzerland claim Brighton originally valued him at £100m, but that figure has now been reduced to around €85m (£74.3m).

The shift could bring his price into a range United view as attainable as they seek a long-term midfield solution.

Ruben Amorim has placed Baleba high on his recruitment list for 2026 as the club anticipates major midfield changes.

Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo are expected to depart at the end of the campaign, and United see Baleba as a strong candidate to anchor their rebuild.

United have also assessed alternative targets, including Nottingham Forest duo Elliott Anderson and Adam Wharton, along with Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, as they examine options to strengthen their central unit.

Baleba is reportedly open to a transfer, though his immediate focus will be on representing Cameroon at AFCON.

Any January move would likely depend on whether United act swiftly to secure what they view as a rare opportunity to land a high-value player at a reduced fee.