Carlos Baleba: Manchester United step up efforts to sign Brighton midfielder

Manchester United have moved closer to signing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba after reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Premier League club, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The proposed deal follows a series of discussions between the two clubs, with United understood to have increased their offer after Brighton rejected an initial bid.

United’s first proposal was valued at £65m, approximately €75m, but Brighton turned it down. The Red Devils have since returned with an improved offer, submitted on Friday, as they seek to complete the transfer without delay.

The latest development suggests negotiations have entered an advanced stage, although the move has not yet been formally completed. Brighton’s response to the revised bid will determine whether the two clubs can finalise the remaining details.

Baleba has reportedly made his own preference clear during the talks. The 22-year-old Cameroon international wants to join Manchester United and has viewed Old Trafford as his preferred destination since the beginning of the negotiations.

That stance could help United in the final stages of the discussions. The midfielder’s desire to move to Manchester may also strengthen the English club’s position as they attempt to reach a full agreement with Brighton.

Baleba remains under contract at Brighton until June 2028, with the club holding an option to extend the agreement by a further year. He is currently valued at €55m, although the eventual transfer fee could be higher given United’s reported willingness to improve their original offer.

Unless there is a late change in the negotiations, Baleba’s move to Old Trafford now appears increasingly likely. Any transfer would give Manchester United a highly rated central midfielder who has already established himself with Brighton and the Cameroon national team.

Baleba is reported to earn an annual salary of €756,162, equivalent to 491,505,300 FCFA.

Brighton are due to begin their English league campaign against Aston Villa. The match is listed as the opening round of the English championship, with Brighton playing at home.

The betting company 1xbet has published odds of 2.25 for a Brighton victory, 3.60 for a draw and 2.88 for an Aston Villa win. Those prices place the two teams relatively closely together in the market, with neither side considered a clear favourite.

For now, Baleba remains a Brighton player, but the latest discussions have increased expectations that he could soon complete a transfer to Manchester United. The revised offer, the verbal understanding between the clubs and the player’s stated preference have all contributed to the growing sense that the Cameroon midfielder’s future may lie at Old Trafford.