Brighton have been handed an opportunity to rebuild Carlos Baleba’s form and confidence as Manchester United’s long-running interest begins to fade.
Baleba entered last summer as one of the Premier League’s most highly rated young midfielders. United explored a deal, but Brighton’s valuation of more than £100m prevented the interest developing into a formal offer.
The Cameroon international remained at the Amex but struggled to reproduce his outstanding 2024/25 form. A proposed move to Old Trafford appeared to occupy the background throughout an inconsistent campaign.
As the original WeAreBrighton analysis argues, another season as a regular under Fabian Hürzeler may now offer Baleba the clearest route back to his previous level.
Baleba needs Brighton more than a transfer
Baleba’s best performances have combined aggressive ball-winning with the ability to carry possession through midfield.
Those qualities appeared less consistently last season. His difficult evening at Aston Villa provided the clearest example, with Hürzeler substituting him during the first half after an early booking and several further fouls.
Baleba then lost his starting place as Pascal Gross and James Milner became the preferred midfield partnership. Yasin Ayari also moved ahead of him before the 22-year-old regained a more regular role towards the end of the campaign.
A move to United would provide greater status and Champions League football, but not necessarily the minutes needed to rebuild his rhythm.
Brighton can offer Baleba a prominent position, familiar surroundings and a coaching staff already aware of the areas requiring improvement. He has also returned for pre-season, with Read Brighton reporting that he remains central to Hürzeler’s midfield plans.
Manchester United have changed their midfield plans
United’s recruitment has reduced the urgency surrounding Baleba.
Michael Carrick has added Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for combined fees of around £83m. Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes provide further competition in central areas.
United could still sign another midfielder, but Baleba is no longer their only prominent option. Adam Wharton, Alex Scott and Manu Koné have also been linked with moves to Old Trafford.
David Ornstein has explained that United are considering players who offer better value following Baleba’s less influential season. Brighton’s valuation remains high, while United have already committed substantial money to Santos and Tielemans.
Read Brighton’s examination of United cooling their interest underlined the change in his position since last summer.
Brighton can restore Baleba’s reputation
Moises Caicedo provided Baleba with a useful example during his final year at Brighton.
Caicedo wanted to join Arsenal in January 2023, but Brighton rejected the offers and temporarily removed him from first-team duties. He returned, helped the club qualify for Europe and moved to Chelsea for a British-record fee six months later.
Baleba does not need to follow an identical route, but his next move should come after another strong campaign rather than a season in which his influence declined.
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes staying at Brighton would not be a negative outcome. He suggested Baleba must rediscover the focus and performance level which originally attracted United.
The midfielder remains young enough to recover quickly. A productive campaign at the Amex could restore his reputation, strengthen Brighton and reopen opportunities at the highest level.
For now, regular football at Brighton offers more value than becoming another expensive option inside a crowded Manchester United midfield.
