Manchester United have been officially cleared to make a major January move for Ruben Amorim's primary midfield target, with Brighton's Carlos Baleba now firmly in their sights for a potential £100 million transfer.
Midfield Revamp Becomes Priority
The Red Devils are preparing to activate their winter spending plans after a summer that saw them invest over £200 million on new attacking talent. The club brought Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford during the previous transfer window, but manager Amorim had initially prioritised midfield reinforcements following United's disappointing 15th-place finish last season.
Despite being restricted to offensive signings initially, the summer business has yielded positive results. United have shown significant improvement since the last international break, climbing to seventh position in the Premier League table and sitting just one point outside the coveted Champions League places.
Baleba Emerges as Primary Target
According to the Daily Mirror, Manchester United have identified Carlos Baleba as their ideal midfield solution and will make a renewed attempt to sign the Brighton star when the transfer window reopens in January. The 21-year-old Cameroonian international has developed into one of the Premier League's most promising midfield talents since Brighton acquired him for just £20 million in 2023.
The urgency for midfield reinforcement stems from ongoing concerns about United's current options. Casemiro appears past his peak, Kobbie Mainoo has been frozen out of the first team setup, and Manuel Ugarte continues to deliver underwhelming performances.
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom addressed United's summer interest last month, stating: "I don't think it was a transfer saga. There was interest from Manchester United, and we said that he wasn't available this summer and they went away. Carlos' improvement has been immense. He's a massively important player to this football club."
Alternative Options and Price Tags
While Baleba represents United's primary target, the club also maintains interest in Nottingham Forest's England international Elliot Anderson. The 23-year-old midfielder was initially viewed as a more affordable alternative, but recent reports suggest Forest will demand at least £100 million for his services, matching Baleba's valuation.
Another name linked with a potential move to Old Trafford is Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher, the former Chelsea midfielder who could provide additional options for Amorim's midfield rebuild.
United's immediate focus returns to Premier League action with a home match against former manager David Moyes' Everton next Monday night, but behind the scenes, preparations are well underway for what could be a transformative January transfer window.
