Spurs Vault Ahead of United in Baleba Chase Thanks to De Zerbi Connection

Tottenham have overtaken Manchester United in the battle to land Brighton's Carlos Baleba, with the Spurs manager's previous relationship with the midfielder proving a decisive factor in the summer transfer race.

Both north London's finest and the Old Trafford outfit are actively hunting midfield reinforcements ahead of next season. For Spurs, there remains uncertainty over whether they will activate the buy-out clause on Joao Palhinha's loan arrangement with Bayern Munich. United, meanwhile, face a more pressing overhaul with Casemiro departing and Manuel Ugarte potentially heading for the exit.

Baleba has long been on United's radar across multiple transfer windows. The Cameroon international reached a verbal agreement on personal terms with the Red Devils back in August 2025, with the player himself keen on the switch. Brighton's resistance prevented the deal from materialising then, and the same impasse arose again in January. United indicated they would circle back to the proposition in summer 2026.

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, several variables remain in play—a permanent manager appointment at Old Trafford, budget allocation, and Brighton's willingness to negotiate all factor into the equation. Yet the framework of that 2025 agreement between Baleba and United reportedly stays intact, with the player retaining genuine enthusiasm for a move to Manchester.

The landscape has shifted, however. Football Insider now reports that Tottenham have seized pole position in the pursuit, with De Zerbi's appointment offering a compelling angle. The Spurs boss managed Baleba during his Brighton tenure and could represent the catalyst for rekindling the midfielder's form.

Former United scout Mick Brown suggested the midfielder's stock has dipped considerably this campaign. "I thought he was genuinely promising when I first watched him," Brown told Football Insider, noting that United's ardour appears to have cooled. "His performances have tailed off quite a bit. If other clubs are stepping back, that opens the door for Tottenham."

The ex-scout believes De Zerbi's prior knowledge of Baleba could prove transformative. "The manager has worked with him before and might reckon he can unlock his best and get him firing again," Brown explained. "Spurs need strengthening and they're up against it given where they sit, but if the gaffer can pull in players, that's a real shot in the arm."