Man Utd have secret weapon to lure Carlos Baleba & no other team can use it

Still active in the transfer market, United are currently in talks with RB Leipzig over a potential £74 million deal for striker Benjamin Šeško, who is said to have agreed personal terms and is keen on the move.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, United have also reached out to Brighton via intermediaries to explore a deal for Baleba.

Brighton are reluctant to part ways with the 21-year-old, and Fabrizio Romano has noted that any transfer would be “complicated” and come with a hefty fee.

Nevertheless, United are determined to strengthen their midfield and have identified Baleba—who arrived at Brighton from Lille in a £26 million deal last year—as a top target.

Baleba made 23 appearances for Lille, where he shared the pitch with current United defender Leny Yoro.

The pair, close in age, developed a bond during their time together in France, and fans are optimistic that Yoro could help persuade Baleba to reunite with him at Old Trafford.

Baleba also represents Cameroon at international level, alongside United goalkeeper André Onana and new signing Bryan Mbeumo.

Reacting to the news, one fan on X wrote: “@leny_yoro get on the phone to Baleba. Get him to force the move!!!”

A second added: “We clearly think we’ve got a chance. Player supposedly keen which would make sense considering about half his former teammates play for us.”

A third joked: “We’ve got agent Yoro, Mbeumo & Onana to pull Baleba.”

Absolutely, Bolu! Here’s a rewritten version of that passage with fresh wording while keeping the meaning intact:

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Liverpool and Arsenal have also been strongly associated with a move for Baleba, while Manchester City expressed interest during the January window.

Yet, according to *L’Équipe*, City’s enthusiasm reportedly cooled after hearing a valuation of £104 million.

Brighton’s highest-ever sale remains the £115 million deal with Chelsea for Moisés Caicedo, and they’ve also made significant profits from players like João Pedro and Marc Cucurella.

Although United aren’t in the best financial shape, they’re still thought to have room for more transfers.

This is thanks to how they structured payments for Cunha and Mbeumo, a £5 million compensation fee from Chelsea for backing out of the Jadon Sancho deal, and sell-on percentages from the departures of Anthony Elanga, Álvaro Carreras, and Maxi Oyedele. Additionally, Barcelona are currently covering Marcus Rashford’s £325,000-a-week salary while he’s out on loan.