Man Utd Reignite Pursuit of £100 Million Midfield Sensation in January Transfer Swoop
Manchester United have reached out to Brighton & Hove Albion regarding a potential January transfer for longtime target Carlos Baleba, according to reports.
United boss Ruben Amorim has been open about his need for midfield additions, and Baleba rose to the summit of the club's wishlist last summer. However, the requirement for costly attacking reinforcements meant they were reluctant to pursue a transfer valued at over £100 million ($134.5 million).
Following that period, Baleba has endured a dip in personal performance, though he has emphasized this decline wasn't related to United's unsuccessful summer pursuit.
With United continuing their search for midfield talent, Sky Sports News reports the Red Devils have again inquired about securing Baleba's services in the January window.
Nevertheless, similar to the summer situation, the transfer is unlikely to advance as Brighton maintain their valuation stance.
The Seagulls are determined to retain Baleba until summer, anticipating that multiple elite clubs will pursue central midfielders and potentially trigger a competitive auction for the 22-year-old.
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Though Baleba remains United's primary midfield objective, he isn't the sole candidate being evaluated.
United's pursuit of players like Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is well-documented, but similar to Baleba, the English pair are anticipated to command substantial fees as Europe's top clubs begin monitoring them.
Seeking more affordable alternatives, United are also believed to have shown interest in Lille's 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi and Olympiacos' 19-year-old Christos Mouzakitis.
Amid these behind-the-scenes developments, Amorim has attempted to manage expectations publicly, indicating there have been no discussions about signings or exits during January.
The manager stated that unsettled squad players like Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee haven't requested departures this month and suggested he doesn't anticipate such conversations, despite both attracting considerable attention from European clubs.