Manchester United have abandoned their summer pursuit of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to a report.
Baleba, 21, has emerged as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League since joining the Seagulls from Lille in 2023 – and the Cameroon international enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024-25.
His impressive performances have seen him linked with a move away, with United eyeing Baleba as an ideal signing in midfield to play next to captain and chief creator Bruno Fernandes.
A price tag of £120million has been mooted for the 21-year-old but United have failed to make progress in any potential deal, with Daily Mail Sport reporting this week how reports of an agreement being struck were wide of the mark.
According to The Athletic, United have now pulled out of a deal this summer and will now be forced to turn to back-up options if they still want to invest this transfer window.
Though the news may come as a boost to Brighton fans, it is reported that Baleba is still keen on the move and is expected to keep pushing to do so, even if that doesn’t happen this summer.
Manchester United have reportedly abandoned their pursuit of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba
United had identified him as their top midfield target but are now reported to have given up hope of signing him this summer
He is however thought to be happy at Brighton and there would be no issues from the player’s point of view in terms of him staying put for another season – though personal terms would unlikely be an issue with United.
The news also comes after Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler had warned off the Red Devils as he delivered a vote of confidence in his player staying at the club for at least another year.
Speaking ahead of Brighton’s opening day fixture against Fulham on Saturday, Hurzeler said when asked how confident he was in Baleba staying: ‘Very, very, very confident.’
When questioned further on why he thought that, Hurzeler added: ‘(It’s) just my belief.’
Hurzeler was then asked about how Baleba had reacted this summer amid the transfer speculation.
‘I didn’t see any change,’ he replied. ‘He only changed his hair, that was the only change he made in the last two weeks.
‘But overall he seems to be in a really good place, he’s enjoying it with his team-mates, he’s enjoying being a Brighton player, he’s very grateful to have the process he had in the last season.
‘So I didn’t see any big change and he is an option to start for tomorrow yes.’
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler had given a vote of confidence in terms of Baleba staying at the club for another year
Midfield was a problem position for Ruben Amorim’s side last season as United endured their worst-ever Premier League finish, but as it stands the club have failed to strengthen in that area.
Hurzeler’s comments also came after United reportedly received a blow in the chase for Sporting Lisbon star Morten Hjulmand, who was viewed as a back-up option to Baleba by the club.
Reports in Portugal claimed Hjulmand, once a favourite of Amorim’s during his time in the Portuguese capital, was valued at around £50m.
Amorim remains a strong admirer of the midfielder and has previously lauded his ‘monster mentality’ and leadership qualities, having appointed him skipper at Sporting.
But it has now been claimed that the 26-year-old Denmark international will be nigh on impossible to acquire this summer thanks to a combination of his expiring release clause and the Portuguese champions’ unwillingness to sell another first team star in the window.
According to Record, the £68m (€80m) release clause in the midfielder’s contract expired on June 15 and Sporting, whose sale of star striker Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal was fraught, have decided to close the door on any further exits.
United kick off their Premier League campaign on Sunday afternoon when Amorim’s side take on Arsenal at Old Trafford.
