Man Utd Eye Brighton's Baleba as 'New Casemiro' in Midfield Overhaul

Manchester United have pinpointed Brighton's Carlos Baleba as their man to fill the Casemiro-shaped hole in midfield come the summer window, with the Red Devils firmly positioned as frontrunners for his signature.

The club's hierarchy has made it abundantly clear that addressing the midfield represents a critical priority after last summer's transfer strategy proved decidedly lopsided. With roughly £200m splashed on three attacking recruits—Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo—the midfield cupboard remained bare, much to the frustration of the Old Trafford faithful.

That oversight will be corrected this time around, with United pencilling in a substantial chunk of their summer budget specifically for midfield reinforcements. Several names have been floated, though Elliot Anderson appears to be slipping from reach. Nottingham Forest's valuation of around £120m for the midfielder has proven prohibitive, while Manchester City are reportedly leading the charge for the England international.

Baleba, however, remains squarely in United's sights. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has consistently highlighted the Brighton star alongside other targets including Sandro Tonali, with Ederson from Atalanta mentioned as a potential fallback option at €40-45m. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano noted: "Don't forget Carlos Baleba, who has been on the list of Man United since summer 2025, and I think could still be an interesting name to follow for this transfer window."

According to Caught Offside, United are "believed to be leading the race" for Baleba, with the club's decision-makers viewing him as a foundational piece of their midfield rebuild—the sort of player capable of anchoring the engine room for years to come. The price tag has become more palatable too, with Baleba potentially available for €75-80m this summer, down from the €100m asking price mooted twelve months ago.

PSG and Bayern Munich have registered their interest, while Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea are keeping close tabs on developments.

However, those expecting United to go on a lavish spending spree simply because they've secured Champions League football should perhaps temper their enthusiasm. Sky Sports analysts Rob Dorsett and Dan Khan have offered a reality check, noting that while Champions League participation could generate up to £70m through broadcast revenue, ticket sales, and merchandising—plus an additional £10m from kit supplier Adidas—the financial picture is considerably more complex.

The existing squad will see wage increases as a consequence of European qualification, representing an immediate cost to the club. Beyond that, United's grand plans for a new 100,000-capacity stadium within the next five to six years means not every penny of that Champions League windfall will find its way into transfer kitties. As Khan and Dorsett put it: "It is far too simplistic – and misleading – to think that United will be able to spend all of their new Champions League money on new players."