Man Utd target Carlos Baleba is the perfect Casemiro successor who dreams of becoming the next Modric or Kroos

CARLOS BALEBA is the Premier League-proven runner Manchester United need. Saturday’s 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in Wroclaw shined a light on the lack of energy and depth in midfield. Manchester United have offered £65m to Brighton for midfielder Carlos Baleba Credit: Getty United chiefs are clamping down hard on recruitment, bringing a brutal end to the wild spending days Credit: Getty United have made an opening offer of £65million for Brighton midfielder Baleba, who is eager to fly to Manchester and agree a five-year-deal. Talks between the two clubs are in progress and United are hopeful of striking a deal for the 22-year-old Cameroon international, who has been a long-term target for the club. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! The Seagulls are open to selling Baleba for less than the £100m price tag quoted last summer. United chiefs are clamping down hard on recruitment, bringing a brutal end to the wild spending days. The club have also rejoiced in keeping their cards close to their chest this time around. Baleba’s arrival would take United’s midfield spend to £150m this summer, meaning just £34m would separate United’s three midfield additions from City’s one marquee signing in Elliot Anderson. Despite the hype around United’s midfield rebuild, rivals City look set to pull off an even larger overhaul, closing in on targets Ayyoub Bouaddi (£100m) and Enzo Fernandez (£120m). United have splashed a combined £85m on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, with CEO Omar Berrada insisting market forces would not force their hand into panicked deals. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Holding midfielder Baleba fits the profile of the powerhouse midfielder United are missing, though an ankle injury suffered against Strasbourg currently has the Brighton man out of action. Santos was deemed Casemiro‘s replacement until now, but with 64 more Prem appearances than him Baleba is more experienced despite being the same age. Even if the move goes through, a two-to-three-week injury delay will leave Baleba needing time to regain sharpness. His form also faltered last season amidst United’s interest, leading to 15 Premier League substitutions, including four at half-time. Brighton turned to Baleba to anchor their midfield after Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea for £115m in 2023. He was the only midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues in 2024/25 season to register 30+ tackles, interceptions, clearances, take-ons, and aerial duels won. United fans were calling for his £100m arrival last summer. Baleba saved his best performance of 2025/2026 for Brighton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea in April, showing his athleticism, aggression and ball-carrying skills. He largely profiles as a like-for-like replacement for Casemiro, albeit without the Brazilian’s instinct for late runs onto the attacking box and mid-distance goal threat. If he joins Michael Carrick‘s side he is most likely to slot alongside new £35m arrival Tielemans, who reaped the benefits of Amadou Onana‘s cover at Aston Villa. Baleba is most likely to slot alongside new £35m arrival Youri Tielemans Credit: Getty Manuel Ugarte is sidelined for at least the next nine months after undergoing knee surgery following his World Cup injury against Spain, while Mason Mount has also missed the final two games of pre-season. Baleba previously told SunSport in May 2025: “If I keep working hard, I can be like Luka Modric or Toni Kroos, I just need to stay grounded. “Declan Rice, Matheus Cunha, Joelinton, they’ve all told me I’ve got it in me. I want to win the Ballon d’Or like Rodri. “His success has opened the door for midfielders like us to believe we can win the Ballon d’Or someday.” Baleba’s journey is nothing short of remarkable so far. In 2022 he was still in Cameroon, uncertain about his future. When he finally got his breakthrough move to Lille, tragedy struck, he lost his mother. Baleba has fulfilled his promise to mum to build a house in Douala and remembers how she would encourage his dad – who played professionally as a striker in Cameroon and South Africa before coaching his son at the Cameroonian academy École de Football des Brasseries – to work him hard as a child. As well as two hours of “non-stop” running every day, Baleba would sprint between truck tyres on a road near his home to work on his agility and honed his gymnastic skills at the local beach. Baleba has done a job at left back for Brighton, an area where United desperately needs cover. But Carrick will feel confident that the club will sign an out-and-out left back to compete with 31-year-old Luke Shaw before the window closes on September 1. Comment now