Asking price slashed for dream United target, club ready to accept £74m bid – report

Brighton & Hove Albion are expected to be more open to entertaining proposals for Carlos Baleba in 2026. Last summer, United explored the possibility of signing Baleba and even agreed personal terms with the Cameroonian midfielder over a move to Old Trafford. However, the Red Devils opted against making a bid for the Brighton star as the Seagulls insisted on the type of money Chelsea paid to sign Moises Caicedo (£115m) in 2023. Manchester United continue to chase Carlos Baleba United wrapped up their summer business without bringing in a midfielder. It is understood the club’s recruitment team still view Carlos Baleba as their priority midfield target. The 21-year-old is highly admired at Old Trafford due to his athleticism, front-foot defending and ball-carrying ability. There is a gaping hole for such a dynamic profile in United’s midfield.  Carlos Baleba Premier League stats: 2025/26 Season Appearances14 Minutes per game56 Touches per game 33 Key passes per game0.2 Accurate passes per game19.8 Interceptions per game1.1 Tackles per game1 Source: Sofascore However, the Cameroon international is enduring a difficult campaign at Brighton, and manager Fabian Hurzeler has admitted that the youngster has been affected by United’s approach.  Brighton slash their transfer demands for Baleba The drop in form could contribute to his price tag being slashed next summer. According to tzmuenchen journalist Philipp Kessler, Brighton could be open to offers of around €85m (£74.2m) in 2026. However, United’s pursuit is unlikely to be without hurdles as Bayern Munich have joined the race for Baleba. It is understood the ex-Lille talent is on the Bundesliga leaders’ shortlist of targets as they search for Leon Goretzka’s replacement. The German midfielder’s contract in Munich is due to expire at the end of the season. Meanwhile, The Telegraph report that Brighton are assessing a “succession plan” for Baleba. Accordingly, they are monitoring Aston Villa midfielder Lamare Bogarde. Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!