‘A player they absolutely love’: Romano says United have placed one player ‘top of their list’, Amorim is in awe

Manchester United retain their interest in Carlos Baleba after initially holding talks over the summer.Back in August, United approached the Brighton and Hove Albion starlet to gauge the feasibility of him swapping the Amex for Old Trafford before 2025/2026 got underway.Why Baleba stayed with the Seagulls over summer(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Although Baleba was fully open and keen on the move, Brighton’s reluctance to sell, combined with their hefty price tag, meant nothing materialised from the discussions.The East Sussex outfit were ready to demand upwards of £115 million – the fee they received for Baleba’s predecessor Moises Caicedo – to facilitate a deal.With the youngster willing to honour Brighton’s wishes to keep hold of him rather than begin forcing the transfer, United were made to put their interest on the back burner.Now, it’s anticipated they will return for the 21-year-old at the end of the campaign, viewing him as more of a marquee signing as opposed to a mid-season acquisition.His price could well have changed by then, too.Baleba’s form throughout the term has faltered in comparison to last year; he has been hooked at the interval on three occasions already and dropped to the bench for matches against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.That being said, should he be back to his best throughout the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament, Brighton will feel they have every right to stand firm and demand whatever fee they see fit.United remain firm admirers of Baleba(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Until then, United will continue to monitor his situation closely, with Fabrizio Romano re-affirming last night that the club are huge admirers of his capabilities.“Look, if there’s a player Manchester United put on top, top, top of their list, for sure it’s Carlos Baleba. Baleba is a player they absolutely love. Anderson and Wharton are on the list… but Baleba has always been seen as the top target for Ruben Amorim,” said Romano.