Carlos Baleba Returns to Manchester United's Radar

Carlos Baleba is back on Manchester United’s radar – and this time, it’s his camp doing the pushing.

According to Fabrizio Romano, representatives of the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder have approached United to check whether the door is still open for a move that came close to happening last summer, only to be crushed by Brighton’s demands.

A year on from a collapsed dream

Twelve months ago, United had made Baleba their priority target in midfield. Personal terms? Done. The 22-year-old was, in Romano’s words, “pushing like crazy” in August 2025 to get the move over the line. He saw Old Trafford as the dream.

Then came Brighton’s price tag. The Seagulls wanted £100million. United walked away.

The fallout hit the player. Baleba’s form dipped in the early months of last season, a clear sign of how the saga had weighed on him. The one upside for United is that his valuation has since fallen, with the figure now understood to be around £70m.

United, meanwhile, have not stood still. They have already spent a combined £85m this summer on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, reshaping the heart of their midfield. But the plan was always for three new faces in that area, and the club are still hunting a dominant defensive midfielder to complete the rebuild.

Baleba’s name has never fully left the recruitment team’s list. Now it’s back near the top.

Baleba’s side makes the first move

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that the latest twist has come from the player’s entourage.

“Those close to the player have been in contact again with Man Utd to suggest the possibility to return for Baleba,” he explained, outlining how the initiative is coming from Baleba’s camp rather than Old Trafford.

With United’s pursuit of Ederson collapsing and other options proving complicated, Baleba’s representatives want clarity. Is there a chance to reopen talks? Or has the moment passed?

“So it’s from Baleba’s side that they are trying to understand if Man Utd can return for the boy or not,” Romano said. The player remains “super keen” on the move. The decision now sits with United’s hierarchy.

One complicating factor is the managerial picture. Baleba was a top target during the period when United were exploring a future with Ruben Amorim. Once the club and Amorim decided not to continue together back in January, that particular track “went cold”, as Romano put it. The recruitment strategy has since evolved, but the need for a defensive midfielder has not.

United’s midfield maze

Baleba is only one of several names under serious consideration.

Manu Kone, now at Roma, is currently the subject of the most advanced talks. United have been working on that deal and, as it stands, appear to be making the strongest progress there.

Sander Berge at Fulham is another option being monitored, offering Premier League experience and a different profile. Eduardo Camavinga’s name is also on the shortlist, though any move for the Real Madrid midfielder would be complicated by his status in Spain and the fact that Madrid are already moving to secure Aurelien Tchouameni on a new contract.

Michael Carrick, heavily involved in shaping United’s midfield vision, would love to bring Tchouameni to Old Trafford. That dream looks dead for now, forcing United to look more seriously at Camavinga and others.

Alex Scott at Bournemouth is admired too. United like his blend of technical quality and energy, but Bournemouth are determined to keep him for at least another year, making that deal difficult in the current window.

So United scan the market. Kone talks continue. Other possibilities stay warm. And from Brighton, a 22-year-old who once thought he was on the verge of becoming a United player waits to see if his second chance is real or just another rumour that fades into the background of a frantic summer.