Manchester United are willing to postpone a pursuit of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba until the following year. United haven’t entirely abandoned hopes of securing the 21-year-old before the transfer window shuts on September 1, though senior figures acknowledge such a move appears improbable.
External sources have indicated a summer deal is “too difficult”. Baleba remains tied to Brighton until 2028, with an additional year’s option, and the club previously offloaded midfielder Moises Caicedo to Chelsea in 2023 for a then-British record £115million.
Baleba would welcome a switch to United, though Brighton value him at approximately £100m.
United have already committed over £200m to Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko during this summer window.
United continue planning midfield reinforcements as Toby Collyer prepares to join West Bromwich Albion on loan.
Collyer would favour remaining, but United desire regular Championship football for him.
Some astonishment emerged that the Red Devils didn’t pursue midfielder Joao Palhinha before his loan switch to Tottenham Hotspur from Bayern Munich.
Palhinha, 30, previously worked under United head coach Ruben Amorim at Sporting, impressed throughout his Premier League stint with Fulham, and United have signed three Bayern players across the past three years.
Agency sources suggested United would favour permanently acquiring a midfielder rather than securing a loan arrangement.
Spurs possess a £27m purchase option for Palhinha. A stumbling block for United in their quest to strengthen their midfield is Casemiro.
The MEN previously reported that four different agents were tasked with selling the 33-year-old, but he looks set to fulfil the final year of his contract.
United have yet to receive any solid offers for Casemiro, who would need to be sold for £15m to avoid a loss under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
Casemiro’s contract is due to expire next year, and while United have the option to extend it by an additional year, they are likely to disregard this.
United brought in Manuel Ugarte on transfer deadline day last year, hoping he would become their long-term defensive midfielder. However, the £50.75m signing has been disappointing and lost his spot to Casemiro towards the end of last season.
Ugarte, 24, had a varied pre-season, impressing against West Ham United in New Jersey before faltering against Everton in Atlanta. Ugarte was in the starting line-up for two of United’s five pre-season matches.
Amorim now faces the decision of whether to pair Bruno Fernandes with Ugarte or Casemiro in United’s opening Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
