United ready to smash transfer record for 22-yo dynamo who is eager to make the move – report

Manchester United are putting aside funds for a blockbuster summer transfer window, which explains their lack of activity in the market this month. The Red Devils are working to get back to their heyday under INEOS, who have experienced mixed fortunes since taking charge as the club’s minority owners. They have already sacked two managers during their short reign, parting ways with Erik ten Hag in November 2024 and then dismissing his successor Ruben Amorim earlier this month. While the search continues for Sir Alex Ferguson’s heir, the Premier League giants are also working to bolster their squad to aid their resurgence. After investing heavily in defence and attack in the past two summers, the focus is very much on midfield this year. Reinforcements were rumoured this month, but it appears that United are reserving their funds for the summer. A dynamic midfielder, possibly as a replacement for the outgoing Casemiro, is on the agenda, and one player who continues to be linked with the job is Carlos Baleba. Casemiro’s heir at Old Trafford Brighton & Hove Albion tasked Baleba with replacing Moises Caicedo, and after a slow start, the Cameroonian has gone from strength to strength at the Amex. He was excellent last season, prompting talk of a possible move to United at the end of the campaign, but the transfer failed to materialise. However, the 22 year old remains firmly in the Red Devils’ plans for this year, although a January move is off the cards. Baleba is a strong, powerful presence on the pitch, who will add athleticism to United’s midfield and perhaps ease the impact of Casemiro’s departure. This season, the Cameroonian has registered 21 appearances in all competitions for the Seagulls, 17 of which were starts. He missed part of the campaign due to AFCON duties, where he played alongside Bryan Mbeumo for his national team. Carlos Baleba Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League1815––4–1,008′ EFL Cup32––1–167′ Total2117––5–1,175′ Source: Transfermarkt. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that Baleba is keen to team up with Mbeumo, who is like his “big brother”. Despite his struggles this season, the Red Devils remain keen on the young midfielder. While Brighton are poised to demand around £100 million for their prized asset at the end of this season, United are reportedly confident of securing him for a bargain fee of £75 million. An update on the saga has now emerged. United ready to break the bank for Baleba According to TEAMtalk, United are prepared to shatter their transfer record by securing a £100 million move for Baleba this summer. The report states: “Manchester United can and intend to set a new club record by completing a £100m signing in the summer, and the midfielder in question is very much on board with moving to Old Trafford.” “Man Utd and Chelsea continue to monitor Brighton’s highly-rated midfielder Carlos Baleba, with both Premier League heavyweights maintaining strong interest in the Cameroon international ahead of the summer transfer window.” A move, though, will only be possible in the summer, with the report adding that Chelsea’s interest is not as advanced as the Red Devils’. Baleba was keen to move to Old Trafford last summer, and that desire has not gone away. The report notes that the move could possibly break United’s current transfer record, surpassing the £89.3 million they paid Juventus for Paul Pogba in the summer of 2016. Final Thoughts United have targeted Premier League-proven players in recent times, with Elliot Anderson also on the club’s radar. However, with City reportedly stepping up their efforts to sign the Englishman, the Red Devils could be tempted to turn to Baleba. 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 Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.