Midfield overhaul pushes Man Utd to chase Baleba as £65m bid arrives

Man Utd have tabled a £60m offer plus an additional £5m for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, aiming to secure a third midfielder after recent signings. The move follows United's midfield reconstruction that is now nearing completion, according to a report published on 19 August 2026, 14:54 BSTUpdated. The accompanying Getty ImagesImage caption notes Baleba has made 112 appearances for Brighton since joining from Lille for £23.2m in August 2023.

Midfield rebuild gains momentum

United added Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa within 24 hours of each other last month, completing a rapid double signing. The pair have already started alongside each other in midfield for Manchester United against AC Milan in Wroclaw. Their arrivals followed the departure of veteran Brazilian Casemiro, whose contract expired on 30 June, and the shift of Bruno Fernandes into a more advanced role.

Baleba offer arrives

United privately downplayed earlier interest in Baleba, but the first formal bid – £60m plus a further £5m – has now been submitted. The club believes Baleba’s ability to cover ground quickly could fill the box‑to‑box role lacking after the recent defeat by AC Milan highlighted a shortage of energy. An ankle injury sustained in pre‑season is expected to keep Baleba out for another couple of weeks, but talks continue and the expectation is the transfer will be completed.

Strategic shift in recruitment

Compared with past attempts, such as the protracted pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong in 2022, United’s current approach is more discreet. Earlier this summer, the club obscured its intentions around initial midfield targets like Elliot Anderson, knowing the Nottingham Forest player would be financially out of reach. The Santos deal was wrapped up within a week and the Tielemans agreement in less than that, illustrating a faster, more controlled process.

In 2025 United signed striker Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens, the only two of four new arrivals not bought from Premier League clubs. The smooth integration of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha into the squad appears to have influenced this summer’s thinking, especially as both players arrived without release clauses, a situation shared by Baleba.

Michael Carrick stressed last week, "We want more, we need more," underscoring the desire for depth. If Baleba joins, United will have additional options including Mason Mount, Scotland World Cup squad member Tyler Fletcher and, in extremis, Bruno Fernandes. However, Mount’s foot injury after a precautionary exit against Paris St‑Germain on 8 August still leaves his availability uncertain.

United also acknowledge an acute need for a new left‑back, though no candidate has been identified yet. The club’s recruitment plans now appear tightly controlled, with the Baleba situation highlighting a broader strategic evolution at Old Trafford.