Baleba’s Future: Manchester United’s Interest Persists Despite Brighton’s Resolve

Despite Manchester United’s keen interest in 21-year-old Carlos Baleba at the beginning of the season, Brighton & Hove Albion has successfully retained the talented defensive midfielder.

In the weeks that followed, Brighton’s head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, urged that speculation regarding Baleba’s future should cease, while recognizing that it might have diverted the player’s focus.

“Certainly, when a young player sees that there is interest from Manchester United, accompanied by a substantial offer, it could impact him on a deeper level,” Hurzeler remarked in September. “This is part of his development; understanding that success on the pitch can attract attention from major clubs. It is crucial for him to remain humble, continue his journey with Brighton, and aim for collective progress, which is something we must diligently work on together. I cannot definitively state whether this has genuinely affected him.”

He further added, “He is still a young individual, and we must recognize that he is not a machine. We need to be attuned to his feelings and emotions, and this is our responsibility.”

Baleba has faced challenges in replicating his previous season’s performances with Brighton, yet he remains committed to excelling for the team. In a December interview with Sky Sports, he stated:

“I don’t believe it has negatively impacted me, but I have certainly felt a lot of pressure. At the start of this season, my goal was to achieve the same level of performance as last year. I am committed to working hard every day to regain my form. Did I place too much pressure on myself? Yes, I did, but I consider it a positive challenge. It drives me to navigate through this stressful period, get back on track, and continue my hard work.”

Looking ahead, even though a potential transfer in 2026 would come at a significant cost, United remains undeterred in their pursuit of Baleba. According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, United is also evaluating other talented midfielders such as Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace and Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest to bolster their midfield options.

“In terms of midfielders, Carlos Baleba has been a consistent name on Manchester United’s shortlist since August. I can assure you that discussions regarding Baleba have not ceased internally at United. He is still regarded as an ideal option by Ruben Amorim and the club’s management,” Romano disclosed on his YouTube channel. “Alongside Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson, Baleba is viewed as one of the top midfield prospects. Although a January transfer is deemed unlikely, should Brighton decide to entertain offers, United remains eager to engage. They maintain communication with those close to the player.”

There were also rumors in December regarding Bayern Munich’s interest in Baleba, but sources indicate that the German club is currently not pursuing a deal. They believe Baleba prefers to remain in England, having shown interest in Manchester United last summer. As of now, Bayern has not initiated any formal negotiations regarding the player. Should anything change this summer, updates will be provided; however, as of early January 2026, Bayern is not actively working on securing Carlos Baleba.

While Baleba represents Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, Manchester United concludes their year with a home match against Premier League bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Brighton faces a challenging away game against West Ham.