Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba has made his way onto Man United’s radar ahead of the transfer window closing.
Carlos Baleba is on Manchester United’s radar.(Image: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images.)
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba has already outlined his thirst for silverware amid Manchester United’s interest in his signature.
According to a report by The Athletic, United have ‘made contact’ with Brighton, via intermediaries, to explore the possibility of signing him before the end of this summer’s transfer window.
Although United have rightfully prioritised attacking signings so far this summer, it is no secret they also want to add a midfielder to their ranks ahead of the transfer window closing on September 1.
The Reds, who face Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly at Old Trafford on Saturday, want to add a sense of energy and aggression to their pool of midfielders, and Baleba, 21, would supply those traits.
Signed by Brighton from French club Lille in August 2023, the midfielder has gone from strength-to-strength since arriving in England, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting midfield operators. He has an enormous amount of potential and is capable of doing a little bit of everything in the engine room.
He has racked up 61 appearances in the Premier League in the last two seasons and has been compared to a collection of household names. Brighton are the masters of unearthing hidden gems and selling them on for a huge profit, and Baleba could be the latest off the production line.
With the utmost respect to Brighton, who are one of the best run clubs in the country, making terrific strides over the last 15 years or so, United are a far superior juggernaut and can offer players a better chance of winning silverware. And winning trophies is something Baleba lives for.
“At the end of my career, I want to have an individual title, to play and mark a little bit of history like the great midfielders have done before,” Baleba told Sky Sports last November. “And then win trophies, lots of trophies, with my club and my country.”
Asked if winning trophies is achieveable at Brighton, he added: “For me, there are opportunities everywhere. I can win trophies here with Brighton, I can win trophies at another club.
Manchester United have set their sights on Brighton & Hove Albion ace Carlos Baleba.(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.)
“My ambition is to just win trophies everywhere I go. Just doing that and making the world happy.”
That sort of mentality is just the sort mentality United need in the dressing room. The Reds’ history is built on silverware and success.
Head coach Ruben Amorim wants to lead United back to their former glories and to achieve that mission he needs players of the right character. Like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, if Baleba were to join United this summer, he would be another player prepared to join the club without the attraction of Champions League football.
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