Baleba Back on United's Radar as INEOS Play Hardball on Brighton Star

Manchester United are dusting off their interest in Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as they hunt replacements in the middle of the park this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Red Devils have made recruiting two or three new midfielders a priority following Casemiro's free transfer exit. With Michael Carrick's impressive run as interim manager before securing the permanent role having restored some shine to the club's prospects, United can now dangle Champions League football in front of potential recruits.

Yet there's a catch: INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe aren't about to throw money around recklessly. After missing out on Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes—who ended up at Manchester City and Tottenham respectively—United opted against matching those valuations. Now they're eyeing a second crack at Baleba.

Speaking on the Market Madness podcast, Jacobs revealed that personal terms with the Brighton man were already locked down during last summer's pursuit. The sticking point then was a £75m asking price, and the situation hasn't necessarily improved from United's perspective.

"If Man United revisit that deal, the player wants Manchester United," Jacobs explained. "But it depends on if Man United want to rekindle that deal now they've missed out on other targets, and it's also contingent on Brighton not turning around and saying Elliot Anderson, £116 million, and so on, Mateus Fernandes, £50 million, and pointing to a number that starts with a one and has two zeros on it."

The complication: Baleba's had a rougher campaign this time around, with inconsistency and injury niggling at his season. That's given United ammunition in negotiations. "Manchester United, if they were to go for Baleba, would want to pay less than they were willing to pay last summer," Jacobs noted. "Brighton are always tough negotiators."

Ferdinand's Backing

The deal has already won endorsement from an unlikely source. Rio Ferdinand, speaking earlier this year, threw his weight behind a Baleba move, describing him as a "serious talent" and a natural successor to Casemiro.

"He's fearless on the ball, drives forward with confidence, and already shows maturity in how he reads danger and transitions play," Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. "What stands out is his aggression in duels and recovery speed—he wins the ball and actually does something progressive with it."

The former United defender reckons Baleba's profile fits modern Premier League demands better than some of the alternatives. "If you're looking at a long-term replacement for Casemiro, Baleba makes real sense. He's got more legs, more mobility, and fits a high-intensity system better right now. Compared to Aurélien Tchouaméni, Baleba offers more dynamism and ball-carrying in transitions. And over Anderson, he's far more disciplined and defensively reliable."

Whether United can get the numbers to work with Brighton remains the question—but at least they've got the player's blessing.