Liverpool Circle Back on Baleba as United Stall in January Chase

Brighton's Carlos Baleba has become the midfield prize that won't go away for Manchester United, though the Red Devils have yet to make their move official in January—and now they face fresh competition from Merseyside.

United's season has been a frustrating affair under Ruben Amorim, with just eight wins from 19 Premier League outings leaving them sixth in the table. Sat three points behind Liverpool but only four clear of Newcastle, the squad's fragility has been exposed repeatedly. That summer spending spree—over £200m across five arrivals—was meant to fix the attack, but the midfield remains a nagging weakness that critics have seized upon.

Liverpool are rekindling their interest in Baleba, though any Anfield move would realistically have to wait until the summer window. The Reds are unlikely to dip into the market for midfield reinforcements right now, but they're certainly keeping tabs on a player Brighton value at £87m.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has poured cold water on suggestions United are close to landing their man. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that United haven't submitted an official bid nor initiated formal negotiations with Brighton in January. What they have done is maintain conversations with Baleba's camp—talks that actually began back in July and continued through August before Brighton refused to entertain a summer sale.

Baleba remains firmly on United's radar for 2026, alongside other midfield targets like Elliot Anderson. Romano stressed that the player himself would be keen on a move to Old Trafford. But here's the rub: Brighton aren't budging in January. The Seagulls are determined to keep their midfielder, and only an outlandish financial offer might shift their position.

"You really need to put crazy money on the table," Romano explained, referencing Brighton's no-nonsense approach alongside their Red Bull ownership structure. "And that's not even a guarantee of making things happen."

United's clash with Leeds on Sunday looms, but their midfield problems won't be solved this month.