Carlos Baleba: What Carrick thinks of Brighton beast as Man United close in on blockbuster deal

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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick was a crucial voice in the decision to focus on Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to the latest reports.

Closing In On A Deal

Heading into the summer transfer window, the Red Devils’ plan was to add three new recruits to an engine room on the verge of stalling after Casemiro’s departure. Having faced setbacks in pursuit of primary targets like Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, the club pivoted towards Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans as two Premier League-proven alternatives.

However, there remained the school of thought that a physical No.6 was needed to bring more balance to a unit containing these two new boys and Kobbie Mainoo, given Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury is likely to rule him out until well into next year.

Baleba – an all-action defensive midfielder with pace and power in abundance – has long been a target at Old Trafford. Advances were made last summer to sign him, only for Brighton’s prohibitive asking price to end the pursuit before it could even begin.

However, fast forward twelve months and the state of play is different. The 22-year-old Cameroon international suffered a sharp downturn in form after a dream move to M16 fell apart, leading the Seagulls to drop their valuation.

United had maintained dialogue with Baleba’s camp during this period, should the opportunity arise to reignite a deal – which paid dividends this week. A formal offer worth £60 million plus £5m in add-ons was tabled yesterday. While this was rejected, there is optimism that a breakthrough is imminent as talks are ongoing between the two clubs.

Carlos Baleba Stats: 2025/26 Season

Carrick’s Seal Of Approval

With a limited number of targets available, such as Fulham’s Sander Berge and Tyler Adams of AFC Bournemouth, Ben Jacobs reveals it was Carrick’s seal of approval which saw Manchester United reopen talks for Baleba. Speaking to the United Stand, Jacobs claims the 41-year-old coach was “presented” with a list of viable targets for the third midfield slot, and his “feeling was that Baleba is the best fit”.

The talkSPORT reporter states this assessment is shared across the executive structure at Old Trafford, with both recruitment lead Christopher Vivell and sporting director Jason Wilcox approving the Cameroonian as the leading candidate at this late stage of the window.

TEAMtalk corroborates this collegiate approach, revealing both Carrick and Wilcox have been “central” to the decision to target Baleba. The report states well-placed sources believe the final fee will reach around £70 million.

“Carrick has also developed an excellent working relationship with Wilcox and the wider football leadership since arriving at the club, with the recruitment process described internally as being closely coordinated from the outset,” the report states.

“That unity has helped United maintain their conviction over Baleba. The belief at Old Trafford is that Baleba is the ideal complement to Tielemans and Santos, while also providing a different balance alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes.”

A third midfielder has been widely established as a priority target for Manchester United. The Red Devils have been tracking Carlos Baleba since last summer, while Michael Carrick has been reported to have an influential role in recruitment. Ben Jacobs is a good source for transfer news at Old Trafford, and is backed up by another outlet. No tier 1 journalist has commented on Carrick’s view of Baleba.