Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Baleba ‘100% CONFIRMED’, Barcola NEXT at Liverpool, Rodrygo INTEREST

Manchester United’s summer transfer window has been like a TV series with endless episodes, cliffhangers, and sudden plot twists. From the very first week of the window, there has been this sense that the club, under Erik ten Hag, is trying to build something that feels different, something that says they are tired of being the chasers and ready to become the hunted again. The arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were big moments, Benjamin Sesko is almost done, but now a new storyline has emerged. This one is complicated, emotional, and messy. The name at the centre is Carlos Baleba, Brighton’s midfield powerhouse, and if United really want him, they are going to have to go through fire to get him.

This is not just another signing. This is a fight with Brighton and Hove Albion, a club that has spent the past few years turning transfer negotiations into a ruthless art form. Brighton are not just difficult sellers, they are almost proud of being difficult. They sold Moisés Caicedo to Chelsea for over £100 million. They sold Ben White to Arsenal for a massive fee. They sold Marc Cucurella, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Trossard, Yves Bissouma — all for big money, and all after making sure they dictated the terms. Brighton’s chairman Tony Bloom is not a man who folds under pressure. If anything, he enjoys watching the bigger clubs sweat. When a team like Manchester United comes knocking, Brighton don’t see it as a threat — they see it as an opportunity to get the best deal possible. And with only a few weeks left in the summer window, the timing makes everything even more intense.

Carlos Baleba’s rise is part of why Brighton are being so stubborn. Two years ago, few people in England even knew his name. He was just another promising young midfielder in France, playing for Lille, showing flashes of potential but still raw. Brighton’s scouting department saw what others didn’t. They saw the strength in his challenges, the confidence in his dribbles, the way he could recover the ball and immediately turn defence into attack. They moved fast, bringing him to the Premier League in 2023, and he adapted almost instantly. By the second half of his first season, he was starting games regularly. Roberto De Zerbi trusted him to break up attacks against top teams, and he delivered. Now, at just 20 years old, he has become the engine in Brighton’s midfield, the player who covers ground, wins tackles, and drives forward with purpose.

For United, that profile is exactly what they have been missing. Yes, Casemiro still has the experience and know-how, but he is not getting any younger. Christian Eriksen can pass through the tightest defences, but his legs are not built for constant pressing battles anymore. Sofyan Amrabat is steady, but not explosive. Baleba would bring energy, youth, and fearlessness. He is the kind of player who can stand in the middle of the pitch and look Manchester City’s midfield straight in the eye without flinching. That is what Ten Hag wants — not just talent, but courage.

But courage is one thing; getting him out of Brighton is another. Negotiations like this are almost a mind game. Brighton will start by quoting a figure that feels outrageous. United’s first offer will be politely rejected. Brighton will then make statements about how happy they are with their squad and how Baleba is “not for sale”. Behind the scenes, though, they will be calculating just how much they can squeeze out of Old Trafford. Every day that passes brings United closer to the end of the window, closer to panic mode, and that is where Brighton thrive.

Fans of both clubs can already picture the drama. Somewhere in Manchester, United’s recruitment team sits in a room, numbers on the whiteboard, working out how to structure a bid without breaking Financial Fair Play rules. Somewhere in Brighton, Tony Bloom is probably smiling to himself, sipping coffee, knowing full well that time is on his side. Somewhere in between, Carlos Baleba’s agent is getting calls, testing the waters, trying to find out just how badly United want his client.

The truth is, Baleba is not trying to force a move, but he is not closing the door either. For a 20-year-old footballer, the chance to join Manchester United is massive. It means playing in the Champions League, it means a bigger stage, it means global recognition. But he also knows that Brighton have been the perfect environment for his development. They gave him Premier League football when many thought he was too young. They trusted him in big games. There is respect there, and he won’t burn that bridge lightly.

The question now is how far United will go. They have already spent big this summer — Cunha was not cheap, Mbeumo cost real money, and Sesko will not come for peanuts. Brighton will be aware of this and might use it to push the price higher. They know United’s need for a midfielder is real. If Ten Hag’s team wants to keep up with City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, they can’t afford to go into the season with a midfield that runs out of legs in February. That desperation could be Brighton’s weapon.

Brighton’s history in the market shows they can be brutal. Chelsea chased Caicedo for months, thought they had him, only for Brighton to raise the price again. Arsenal had to go all the way to £50 million for Ben White. Tottenham tried to negotiate for Yves Bissouma but still paid more than they wanted. This is how Brighton operate — they make you work for it, and they make you pay.

If United do get Baleba, the ripple effects will be huge. It will be a signal to the rest of the Premier League that they can go into the most hostile transfer battlegrounds and win. It will also give Ten Hag a midfield that can compete with anyone. Imagine a spine of André Onana in goal, Lisandro Martínez at the back, Casemiro and Baleba in midfield, Bruno Fernandes creating, and a front line of Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko. That is a team that could genuinely challenge for the title. But if the deal collapses, the conversation shifts. United will be accused of lacking pulling power. Ten Hag will be told his rebuild is incomplete. And Brighton will once again walk away with their reputation as the Premier League’s most stubborn negotiators intact.

The next few weeks could see all sorts of twists — an opening bid rejected, a second bid with add-ons, Brighton going silent for days, stories leaking to the press, fans on both sides arguing on social media, Baleba’s agent hinting at “interest from abroad” to keep United nervous. We have seen this script before, and it usually ends one of two ways — with the buying club paying more than they wanted, or with no deal at all.

What makes this battle even more fascinating is that both clubs are chasing different goals this season. United want trophies now. Brighton want to build for the future while staying competitive. Losing Baleba would hurt them on the pitch, but the money could fund their next wave of signings. For United, missing out on him could mean relying on tired legs and risky rotations when the big games come.

Somewhere in all of this, Carlos Baleba is just trying to focus on football. He trains, he plays, he hears the rumours, but he knows his future is being decided in boardrooms, not on the pitch. In a few weeks, he could be wearing red at Old Trafford, walking out to the roar of 75,000 fans. Or he could still be in Brighton blue, running out at the Amex, knowing he was the subject of one of the summer’s most intense transfer sagas.

And that is why this story has captured so much attention. It is not just about one player moving from one club to another. It is about strategy, pride, ambition, and the brutal reality of the modern transfer market. In this game, you don’t just need money — you need timing, patience, and the nerve to hold your ground when the other side is trying to push you to the limit. The clock is ticking. The phones are ringing. Somewhere, a deal is being shaped. And everyone — from the fans to the managers to the player himself — is waiting to see who blinks first.