Manchester United have registered their interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, who has been warned to avoid one club in particular and told which rival may be a better fit
Carlos Baleba has been strongly advised to reject any future advances from Chelsea. The Manchester United target has been linked with many top clubs over the past 12 months, but a former Cameroon star thinks Liverpool would be his best fit.
United are reportedly weighing up a move for the 21-year-old box-to-box star this summer after a breakout campaign on the south coast. However, Brighton are understood to be seeking a fee of around £104million for the player, who is also attracting interest from Manchester City.
Former Cameroon striker Bernard Tchoutang represented the country on 42 occasions, winning the African Nations Cup in 2000. And he has told his compatriot that a move to United’s greatest nemeses would suit him the most, but thinks Chelsea should be avoided at all costs.
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“For me, Liverpool is the club that would suit him best,” Tchoutang told AfricaFoot earlier this year. “And I’m not just saying that because they’re by far the best team in the Premier League this season and one of the strongest in Europe.
“Arne Slot’s system of play would suit him very well. The Reds like to attack, press and make quick transitions. We also know that this is a club that knows how to trust young players and give them responsibility.
“As for Chelsea, I’m not sure it would be a good choice. The team is having a decent season, but it’s a step below Liverpool or Arsenal. And I think that Baleba has what it takes to play for one of the best teams in England! He’s ready for it and he’s working hard for it.”
Chelsea and Liverpool are not actively being linked with the midfielder, but have shown interest in him in the past. United are thought to be Baleba’s biggest admirers considering a deal this summer, though the club are aware that agreeing a transfer for him will be incredibly difficult.
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023 as part of a £23.m deal. Fast forward two years, and Fabian Hurzeler’s side are reportedly hoping to fetch almost four times that amount if they’re to part ways with the player this summer.
It seems highly unlikely Ruben Amorim‘s side will be able to compete for Baleba’s signature this summer on the current terms. United have agreed a £74m deal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, which would take their summer spending to just north of £200m, and have already ruled out using Toby Collyer in a swap deal to save them some money up front.
Liverpool, meanwhile, appear unlikely to move for a new midfielder after the quartet of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Dzobozslai, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones helped fire them to Premier League glory last season. They’ve also got Stefan Bajcetic back following his loan at Las Palmas, though reports suggest a loan move to Celtic could be in the offing.
As for Chelsea, their midfield also appears settled as the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia look set to rule the roost. The Blues were also hit with £78.5m in UEFA fines, £51m of which is suspended, just last month for failing to comply with spending restrictions.
Worryingly for United, that could leave City in the best position to meet Brighton’s demands and sign Baleba this summer. Pep Guardiola already recruited £46m Tijjani Reijnders to replace Kevin De Bruyne, though City’s summer spending has been relatively modest compared to some rivals, while Brighton are said to be extremely reluctant to cash in on him at the moment.
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