Manchester United are in the market for midfielders and Carlos Baleba, who the club eyed 12 months ago, is understood to have spoken to the likes of Bruno Fernandes about an Old Trafford switch
Bruno Fernandes speaking to Carlos Baleba(Image: Sky Sports)
Carlos Baleba discussed the possibility of moving to Manchester United with several of their star players – including Bruno Fernandes – on the final day of the Premier League season.
The Brighton midfielder was linked with a £100million switch to Old Trafford last summer, but the Seagulls had no interest in selling up and the player remained on the south coast.
United are in the market for central midfielders and that could lead to them reigniting their interest in Baleba. The Red Devils secured a dominant 3-0 win at the Amex on the final day of the season but The Sun reports that the Cameroonian sounded out Fernandes after the final whistle.
They also claim that the 22-year-old went to speak with Matheus Cunha, who was an unused substitute. He pulled the Brazilian aside after the match and the pair had a lengthy conversation by the tunnel.
Cunha himself only made the move to Manchester last summer as part of a £200m investment into the club’s frontline. Baleba has links with several of the current United squad having played alongside defender Leny Yoro during the pair’s time at Lille.
He is close with compatriot Bryan Mbeumo while fellow Cameroon international Andre Onana encouraged Baleba to go after a move to Manchester last year before his loan switch to Trabzonspor.
United are set to land Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Atalanta after a £35m agreement was reached, but have been linked with several players at other Premier League clubs. Baleba moved to Brighton for £23m, meaning they could bank a massive profit, just as they did when they allowed Moises Caicedo to join Chelsea for £115m.
Speaking last season, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler admitted that United’s failed move to sign Baleba did have an impact on the midfielder’s performances.
“For sure, when a young boy reads there is interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep, deep [down],” he said. “That’s also part of the development to understand that when you play well, there comes a big offer, there comes a big club who wants to have him.
“But then to keep pushing, to be humble, stay here in Brighton, and try to make the next step with the team and that’s something we have to keep on working with him and therefore I can’t give you a clear answer if it’s really affected him or not.
“But for sure, he’s a young boy and we need to understand he’s not a machine that if you click on then he always runs and off then he stops. We need to understand his feelings, his emotions, where he comes from, and that’s our responsibility.”
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