Manchester United produced an attacking masterclass as they defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 on Saturday evening. While the visitors almost pulled off a late comeback, Man United refused to allow them to build up too much hope, responding almost immediately with a fourth goal. At the forefront of United’s ruthless attacking display was Bryan Mbeumo. Cool and composed Whenever he got the ball, Mbeumo seemed to have everything under control, no matter how closely he was marked. The Cameroonian completed 34 of his 38 passes (89% accuracy) while making two key passes, yet again showcasing his playmaking ability. He also proved to be an entertaining dribbler, completing four of his five attempted dribbles. Furthermore, he won an impressive six of eight ground duels thanks to his fancy footwork. Interestingly, only six of his 59 touches were considered unsuccessful, proving just how surgical his performance truly was. A surgical finisher Mbeumo’s shooting against Brighton was world-class. He took three shots, one of which, unluckily, hit the woodwork. This ultimately meant that he narrowly missed out on securing a hat-trick, given the two phenomenal goals he scored on the night. Mbeumo’s first goal in the 61st minute showed how quick his feet can be, as he cut into the box and fired a left-footed shot past the keeper. His second goal was just as impressive, coming moments after United conceded. Rather than sitting back to retain their lead, Ruben Amorim’s men burst forward, with Mbeumo hammering his shot past the keeper to clinch his second goal on the night. If there was one lesson to take away from this match, it’s that having a Premier League proven signing such as Mbeumo has certainly paid off for United. (Stats via Sofascore) Featured image Carl Recine 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 Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
Watch what Ruben Amorim did instantly after Matheus Cunha goal vs Brighton
Ruben Amorim looked incredibly relieved watching Matheus Cunha score the opening goal against Brighton.Manchester United opened the scoring in the opening half hour at Old Trafford. A bit of fortune from Casemiro, via a deflected strike, ensured the Red Devils went into the half-time break with a 2-0 lead.A win on Sunday would allow United to leapfrog Premier League rivals Liverpool in the table.Ruben Amorim reacts to Matheus Cunha goal vs Brighton(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Ruben Amorim might have been the most relieved figure inside the Theatre of Dreams – which is saying something!But who can blame the tactician, given that reports speculating on Amorim’s potential sacking are hardly in the distant past.United fans have struggled with false dawns, managerial reign after managerial reign. However, dare we say it aloud, Manchester United may have finally struck gold with the former Sporting CP boss. Ruben Amorim stats 51 games 1.41 points per game 21 wins 9 draws 21 defeats * Ruben Amorim’s managerial stats at Manchester United, pre-Brighton (Transfermarkt)It’s early days, still, even should we manage to secure a third (yes, really!) consecutive win in the English top-flight.Still, the magnitude of Cunha’s opening goal, and what it might potentially lead to, was absolutely evident for Amorim, as the 40-year-old let out a jubilant scream at his bench.Watch Ruben Amorim’s reaction during Man Utd vs Brighton below, courtesy of beINSports: Man look how happy Amorim was after that Cunha goal. You can tell he’s waited for this 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/X0EpDZmEMf — Jace(fan) (@UTD_jacey) October 25, 2025Is Ruben Amorim steering Manchester United to the Champions League?Should Manchester United confirm three points at Old Trafford, as expected, the result leaves the hosts fourth in the Premier League table.Albeit, we’ll be a game ahead of Bournemouth (15 points), Liverpool (15 points), and Tottenham (14 points), all trailing behind United.On nine games played, expectations do still need to be tempered – not least of all due to the fact we’ve got some tough games coming up in November: November 1: Nottingham Forest (A) November 8: Tottenham (A) November 24: Everton (H) November 30: Crystal Palace (A) If Amorim can help steer Manchester United to eight or nine points from a possible 12, that would have to be considered a very solid return from that fixture list.With positive form will come a different kind of pressure – one the Portuguese head coach has yet to truly experience at Old Trafford.But if Senne Lammens’ recent comments are anything to go by, we have faith.
This Amorim decision made all the difference as United grabbed a tenacious 3-2 win over Brighton
Manchester United defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 in what was a highly convincing display. Man United pulled no punches in front of the jubilant Old Trafford crowd, attacking with determination and defending with grit throughout the encounter. Ultimately, it was United’s summer signings who made all the difference, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Senne Lammens putting in highly impactful performances for their new club. Clearly, transfers are something that manager Ruben Amorim has gotten right. First half Given Brighton’s decent form against United in recent games, the hosts appeared to be on high alert, maintaining control of possession and defending well. Then, in the seventh minute, it seemed as if the visitors could have opened the scoring. Former United player Danny Welbeck burst down the right wing, putting a through ball to Yankuba Minteh in the middle, who was virtually one-on-one with the keeper. The Brighton forward hit the ball wide, allowing United to breathe a sigh of relief. The visitors continued to pressure United’s defence. Carlos Baleba, a transfer target of the home side, passed to Welbeck in the centre of the box, whose shot was well saved by Senne Lammens. United replied with a quick counter, only for Amad Diallo’s leg to be clipped in the box. Despite calls for a spot kick, the referee determined that there wasn’t enough in the challenge for a penalty. Matheus Cunha attempted an audacious shot from outside the box that veered just wide of the far post. Suddenly, United’s performance started to look a whole lot more encouraging. A few moments later, Cunha was in the thick of the action yet again, this time threading the ball through to Casemiro, who rushed into the box and slammed his shot into the side netting, albeit from a very tight angle. In the 24th minute, United’s determination paid off. Casemiro returned the favour by supplying Cunha this time, who fired his shot hard and true from the edge of the box past the keeper and into the bottom right corner. A phenomenal first United goal for the Brazilian. On the half-hour mark, Minteh danced past Yoro, seemingly in on goal. Fortunately, Luke Shaw was in his path, allowing Lammens to scoop up the ball. With just 12 minutes left of the half, Casemiro doubled United’s lead. Shaw intercepted the ball in Brighton’s half, with United ready to take full advantage. Casemiro took a shot from outside the box, which was deflected off Jan Paul van Hecke. After some deliberation, the goal was awarded to the Brazilian, with Old Trafford erupting in delight. On the stroke of half-time, Bryan Mbeumo handed Benjamin Sesko a golden opportunity to score, passing him the ball just ten metres from the goal line. Unfortunately, Sesko ballooned his shot over the crossbar. Still, there was little for United to complain about, going into the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion. Second half Following the restart, United looked just as determined to score as they did in the first half. Just four minutes into the second half, United almost scored again when Amad’s pass rebounded off Maxim De Cuyper into the path of Cunha. The Brazilian laid the ball off to Bruno Fernandes, who took a fiery shot, only for Bart Verbruggen to deny his effort. On the hour mark, Mbeumo got in on the action, cutting into the box and taking a left-footed shot that squeezed through the legs of Lewis Dunk and past the keeper. 3-0 to United as they appeared set to cruise to a comfortable victory. Also worth mentioning is that Sesko earned his first assist in the Premier League. Ruben Amorim then decided to make a change, bringing off a tired Luke Shaw for Ayden Heaven. Clearly, Shaw had earned a rest following a strong performance. On the stroke of 70 minutes, Amad was replaced by Patrick Dorgu, while Kobbie Mainoo came on for Casemiro. Mbeumo almost found yet another goal when he took a surgical shot with his first touch, only for the ball to strike the upright. Moments later, Brighton were on the attack, with Minteh getting on the end of a long ball. Dorgu was the last defender separating him and the keeper, with the youngster taking down the Brighton forward with what was a seemingly light challenge. Fortunately for Dorgu, the referee saw it that way, showing Dorgu a yellow card rather than sending him off for potentially preventing a goal-scoring opportunity. Of course, Lammens was already on the ball after Minteh took a heavy touch. Brighton made the most of their consequential free kick, with Welbeck curling a sensational shot into the net. Lammens had no chance of saving that, with the scoreline changing to 3-1. Straight after kick-off, a rejuvenated Brighton were on the attack again, with Watson taking a close-range shot at the bottom left corner that Lammens did brilliantly to catch. With a little less than ten minutes to play, Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte came on for Cunha and Sesko. Seven minutes of stoppage time were announced, meaning United would need to keep their concentration a little longer to secure the win. Shockingly, Brighton pulled another goal back, when Charalampos Kostoulas flicked the ball into the goal from the near post in what was a cheeky header from a corner. Just when it seemed that the visitors could pull off a late shock, United decided against playing it safe. Instead, they burst forward on the attack, with Mbeumo launching another superb strike for United’s fourth goal. The referee blew the full-time whistle on what was an impressive showing by United. Despite a late scare, United continued their fine attacking display to seal a well-deserved victory. Handing Amorim a three-match winning streak – his longest to date – United finally seem to be gelling well under their newest manager. Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images Starting XI: Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot, Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko Subs: Heaven, Dorgu, Mainoo, Ugarte, Zirkzee 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 Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
Four things we learnt as Amorim’s United finally seem to be finding their gears
Manchester United welcomed Brighton and Hove Albion to Old Trafford on Saturday evening. Senne Lammens continued in goal with Leny Yoro replacing Harry Maguire in the defence. Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw started alongside him with Diogo Dalot and Amad in the wingback roles. Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro began in the midfield, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in the number 10 positions. Benjamin Sesko returned to the starting line up after finding himself on the bench for the match against Liverpool last weekend. Here are four things we learnt from the match. Cunha gets his reward Matheus Cunha has impressed at Old Trafford before but he had not been rewarded with a goal or an assist. The Brazilian lit up the famous old stadium in a pulsating first half where he scored his first goal for the club. It was a wonderful finish, reminiscent of the type of effort he would regularly put away for Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Brazil international was consistently bright and linked up well with his teammates to the delight of the crowd. Cunha also showed his worth defensively, tracking back and putting in an all-round impressive display for the Red Devils. High pressing Much was made of United’s tactics of long balls last weekend at Anfield and the Brighton manager made a point of mentioning that his side were expecting more of the same. The Seagulls were clearly caught out as they routinely failed to deal with a rabid United press. Casemiro’s goal was the result of wonderful closing down by Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt was regularly well up the pitch closing down space. Mbeumo, Amad, Sesko and Cunha also hounded the Brighton defence in an electric first 45 minutes. Luke Shaw on form The England international has had his fair share of critics in recent time. Nonetheless, Ruben Amorim has stuck with him in the absence of Lisandro Martinez as he has been a regular starter for the club this season. Shaw was smart off the ball and made two or three key interceptions that blocked Brighton from possibly scoring in the first half. If the 30 year old can keep up this sort of form, he certainly has something to offer at Old Trafford in the present and the future. Bryan Mbeumo is the heartbeat of the attack All of United’s four summer signings played their part today but Mbeumo continues to be the heartbeat of the attack. He scored the crucial opener at Anfield last week and banged in his fourth of the season to kill the game against the Seagulls. Brighton fought back but it was Mbeumo who grabbed his second of the game to finally put away the visitors. It isn’t just his goals though, it is the Cameroonian’s ability to knit play together and his growing understanding with his teammates that will only excite Old Trafford further. Featured image Shaun Botterill 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 Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
Casemiro scored and assisted but this United firecracker was the real menace in 4-2 win vs. Brighton
Manchester United cruised to a 4-2 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford Here are our player ratings from the game. (A score of 6 is around average) Senne Lammens 8 – Another confident performance. Just can’t do any wrong in a United shirt at the moment. Denied Danny Welbeck in the first half and produced a top-class fingertip save in the second half. Leny Yoro 6 – Shaky in the early stages but eventually settled and had a strong performance. Matthijs de Ligt 7 – Accomplished! Aggressive in his defending and didn’t shy away from passing forward when the opportunity presented itself. Luke Shaw 7 – Impressive. Won the ball for United’s third goal of the match. Amad 7 – Denied what looked like a clear penalty in the first half. Very good and involved in a lot of United’s attacking play. Casemiro 9 – Rolled back the years. Assisted Matheus Cunha before getting on the score sheet himself, although he was aided by a wicked deflection. Moved into advanced areas on multiple occasions and he got his rewards. Came off to a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd. Bruno Fernandes 6.5 – A good showing. Involved in multiple promising chances, including one which saw him square the ball to Bryan Mbeumo, who should have bagged a second. Diogo Dalot 5.5 – Decent. Bryan Mbeumo 9 – United’s most dangerous player. Took his goal extremely well and should have registered a brace, but his strike was kept out by Bart Verbruggen. Sealed the victory late on to ensure it was ultimately a comfortable 4-2 win. Matheus Cunha 8 – Excellent finish to open his goalscoring account for the Red Devils. Benjamin Sesko 7 – Had two very good chances to score but couldn’t hit the target on either occasion. Nevertheless, a solid outing. Assisted Mbeumo’s goal. Substitutes Ayden Heaven 6 – Picked up where Shaw left off. Kobbie Mainoo 6 – Some nice touches and passes that helped United get over the line. Looked good when he came on. Patrick Dorgu 4 – An error on his part resulted in Brighton reducing the deficit, ultimately preventing United from keeping a clean sheet. Joshua Zirkzee 5 – Few good moments during the brief time he was on the pitch, but didn’t cover himself in glory for Brighton’s second goal. Manuel Ugarte 5 – Just OK Featured image Shaun Botterill 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 Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
Fabian Hurzeler warns his Brighton players about ‘decisive’ Man Utd stars who pose so much ‘danger’
Fabian Hurzeler will be in the dugout at Old Trafford this evening with hopes of continuing his stellar record against Manchester United.The Brighton and Hove Albion boss has won both his meetings against the Red Devils since taking the reins from Roberto De Zerbi in June 2024.Last season, the Seagulls were one of a host of Premier League sides to complete a double over United, initially overseeing a 2-1 victory at the Amex in August before sealing a comfortable 3-1 win in M16 in January.Ruben Amorim was in charge of the latter, having succeeded Erik ten Hag last November, meaning tonight’s clash is just the second meeting between the two young coaches.Why tonight’s game is a must-win for Amorim (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Amorim has the opportunity to build on last Sunday’s emphatic Anfield triumph, which saw United defeat their arch-rivals 2-1 on Merseyside to claim their first win at the stadium in nine-and-a-half years.However, the Portuguese boss will know all too well that, in top-flight football, you’re really only as good as your last result, and anything other than a win against such a bogey team like Brighton would dampen how significant the victory was. He certainly has all the tools at his disposal to achieve his goal, too. Mason Mount and Harry Maguire are doubts to start come 5.30pm, but they could seamlessly be replaced by the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Leny Yoro, both of whom have enjoyed stellar starts to their respective seasons.Hurzeler wary of United’s attacking threat(Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)Hurzeler is also well aware of the quality Amorim has at his disposal, as he told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “Of course, they have really good individual quality in their team — they can change the game with one action, with one moment of momentum.“Every one of their players, especially in the front, can decide the game with a single action, no matter if it’s [Bruno] Fernandes, [Bryan] Mbeumo, Mount, Sesko, [Matheus] Cunha — you can mention all of them. All of their players have great individual quality, and that’s why they’re always a danger for us.“So we have to stay alive for 90 minutes, no matter if we’re in possession, out of possession, or even on set pieces, for or against, because they can score in any phase of the game.“That’s what makes them so dangerous — this change of game, very vertical, very straightforward, with a lot of deep runs, a lot of players attacking the box, and also being a threat from set pieces.”
‘He needs to improve’: Amorim sends warning to £62m Man United star in build-up to Brighton clash
Ruben Amorim has hailed Matheus Cunha for his impactful attacking exploits this season, but admitted the forward has to be doing more defensively.So far, the Brazilian whiz has been a breath of fresh air for the Old Trafford faithful.His flair and technicality have been prominent from the off of his Red Devils tenure, and it’s these kind of traits that make it clear why United forked out £62.5 milion to acquire Cunha’s services from Wolverhampton Wanderers over the summer.Cunha has been an instant hit with United supporters(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)While he has yet to open his account in front of goal, fans aren’t sweating over the delay, as what he has offered in his appearances in the early stages of the term has been incredibly promising.Last time out, during the emphatic win over Liverpool at Anfield, the 26-year-old was restored to the XI, having been dropped for the win over Sunderland the week prior.Although Cunha didn’t contribute to either of the Reds’ two goals on the night, he put in a sensational 90-minute shift to aid the side in getting the result over the line – even when it came to winning fouls in the dying embers of injury time and taking his time to restart play, frustrating Arne Slot and his men as they slumped to a fourth successive defeat.Will Cunha make his sixth start this evening?(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)The former Molineux talisman will hope his efforts will have done enough to earn him a spot in the starting line-up for the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon.To do so, it may include a slight positional change, as hinted at by Amorim in an interview with MUTV.“He (Cunha) needs to improve a lot of things, especially defending, but he has something special, and he is a really important player for us,” Amorim said of his No.10.“He can play in different positions, so I expect the same in the next game because, in our club, it’s really important to show it in every week.”
‘Really good’ ‘Brilliant’: Gary Neville & BBC pundit really impressed with one Man Utd star vs Brighton
Gary Neville was impressed with Matheus Cunha’s goal against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.The Manchester United summer signing opened his scoring account at Old Trafford in the first half of action.Gary Neville applauds Matheus Cunha goal vs Brighton(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)It marks an important milestone for the former Wolves man, who had yet to register a single goal contribution in his prior eight appearances (all competitions) for Ruben Amorim’s men. Matheus Cunha stats at Manchester United 531 minutes 0 goals 0 assists * Matheus Cunha stats at Man Utd in the 2025/26 season (all competitions prior to Brighton game), via TransfermarktOf all the moments the Brazilian ace could have chosen to take centre stage, he certainly picked a fine one at the weekend, with the Red Devils on track to win three games in a row.Not to mention it being the perfect response to Amorim’s call for improvements ahead of United’s latest English top-flight outing.Neville, speaking on co-commentary, was left especially impressed with the ‘really good’ nature of Cunha’s effort against Fabian Hürzeler’s visiting Seagulls.“He has perfectly bent it into that far corner. Really good by Cunha,” the former Man Utd fullback spoke on Sky Sports.Paul Robinson, reporting on BBC Radio 5 Live, was in agreement: “It’s a wonderful finish from Matheus Cunha and that goal has been coming from Manchester United.“His first touch is brilliant.”Matheus Cunha stats from the first half as Man Utd impress(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)What a time to be a Manchester United fan!We’re still, to be absolutely clear, some distance away from reaching the heights now currently occupied by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. But the progress – particularly following an impressive away win at Anfield last week – is evident for all to see. Matheus Cunha has scored 16 Premier League goals since the start of last season, a league-high 6 of them have come from outside the box. OFF THE MARK FOR MAN UTD. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/8pu5NQDTVm — Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 25, 2025Ultimately, it helps that Amorim’s signings are all gradually proving their worth. Bryan Mbeumo, certainly, played a starring role in the 2-1 win against Arne Slot’s side last Sunday.Having opened the scoring against Brighton, it’s no surprise to see Cunha handed a 7.8/10 rating (Sofascore) at half-time. 1 goal 0.65 expected goals on target (xGOT) 2 shots (2 on target) 30 touches 2/2 dribbles completed 11/15 accurate passes (73%) 1 key pass 1 interception 1 clearance 2/5 ground duels won The stats don’t lie!We know Matheus Cunha can be exactly the kind of player who can raise the bar at Manchester United.Cunha shouldn’t let over-enthusiasm help gift Brighton a way back inIt’s been a really welcome performance, but we’re very aware of the fact the attacker is at some risk on occasion of undoing his own hard work.There was a bit of a heart-in-mouth moment in that regard, as the 26-year-old threw himself into what can only be described as a reckless slide tackle inside the box.Cunha did, thankfully, manage to pull out before making contact with Yankuba Minteh. But it’s exactly the kind of thoughtlessness that would have Ruben Amorim (and United fans) pulling out their hair at half-time.A good start for the forward – now to keep his cool for the second half!
‘Told by sources at the club’: Ornstein rates one side’s chances of signing £81.5m Man United duo in Jan
Amid their calamitous start to the 2025/2026 campaign, West Ham have been linked with Manchester United wantaways Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee.Particularly the latter, as he is featuring even less than his teammate following the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford this summer.Joshua Zirkzee: The state of play this season(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Zirkzee has yet to even start a game in any competition this term, and has been an unused substitute for five of United’s opening eight Premier League matches. In regard to the times he has played, his lengthiest cameo (59 minutes) came back on August 30 when he was called upon to replace the injured Cunha in the first half against Burnley.Since then, however, the Dutchman featured for a measly 10 minutes in the Manchester derby and for just five minutes of the side’s defeat to Brentford on September 27.Reports over the last week have suggested the Irons are preparing a formal loan offer for Zirkzee, having deemed him a suitable addition to try and turn Nuno Espirito Santo’s fortunes around; West Ham currently sit 19th-placed and have won one game all season.Mainoo also faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)As for Mainoo, he is vying with his skipper, Bruno Fernandes, for a starting spot under Ruben Amorim, which has led to him spending the majority of 2025/2026 so far watching on from the bench.After missing out on the opening two fixtures entirely, Mainoo has been utilised in each gameweek since then. However, his time on the pitch has not exceeded the half-hour mark since the end of August.The 20-year-old, valued in the region of £45 million by INEOS chiefs, asked to leave United on loan in the final week of the summer window, but saw his request rebuffed.Fabrizio Romano anticipates that Mainoo will reiterate his desire to depart on loan in January if his situation hasn’t changed.David Ornstein was pressed on whether either of the Red Devils outcasts could end up at the London Stadium in two months’ time, to which he responded: “I am told by sources at the club that they (West Ham) are looking to bring in a few new players. A forward would surely be on the agenda, but not Ivan Toney. Other players are linked with them: Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee at Manchester United.“But I think it’s a pretty remote chance [that the Hammers get either of them]. We don’t even know if they will be leaving Old Trafford.”Footage courtesy of NBC Sports.
Carlos Baleba quickly deletes United-themed social media post after adding fuel to fire of transfer links
Carlos Baleba will play at Old Trafford today for the first time since he was heavily linked with a Manchester United move over the summer.This evening, Brighton and Hove Albion take to the Theatre of Dreams in hopes of continuing their stellar form at the ground, and the Cameroonian midfielder will be expected to play a vital part in the fixture.United and Carlos Baleba: What occurred over the summer?(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Back in August, United held talks with Baleba over a potential switch, with reports at the time suggesting he was keen on completing the move. Nothing materialised between the parties involved, as Brighton had set their valuation in the region of £100 million. Understandably, they were reluctant to part ways with their coveted talent only two years after signing him from Lille.INEOS chiefs subsequently conceded that not all areas of Ruben Amorim’s squad could be strengthened in one window and ended their pursuit of the 21-year-old.Despite being one of Fabian Hurzeler’s most consistent and reliable performers last term, Baleba’s form has faltered since 2025/2026 got underway, and the Brighton boss thinks United’s approach has something to do with it.When touching on the player’s inconsistent performances last month, Hurzeler told reporters: “For sure, when a young boy reads there is interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep, deep down.“That’s also part of the development to understand that when you play well, there comes a big offer, there comes a big club that wants to have him.” Fabian Hurzeler admits Manchester United links could be affecting Carlos Baleba pic.twitter.com/k5E56S8Jhn — BeanymanSports (@BeanymanSports) September 20, 2025Baleba quickly removes social media post seemingly referencing United links(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)It remains to be seen whether United will revive their interest come the end of the term. If recent speculation is anything to go by, Baleba remains a firm option on their shortlist.Ahead of Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off, the Seagulls star previewed the clash on Instagram with a snap of himself in action for Brighton along with the key details of the contest.Initially, he captioned the post: “Coming to Old Trafford”, adding a laughing face emoji. However, he removed the picture shortly after and reposted it without the text. 🚨📸 | Carlos Baleba posted this on his Instagram story, and then shortly after removed the caption. 😅 pic.twitter.com/2Bd7n1bjOL — (fan) Frank 🧠🇵🇹 (@AmorimEra_) October 25, 2025
