Manchester United looked into signing Carlos Baleba. He’s a young midfielder from Brighton & Hove Albion. But a January deal for the Cameroon international probably won’t happen. It’s not expected to progress this month, really. Brighton wants a lot of money for him. They’re holding out for over £100 million, apparently. This is part of United’s bigger transfer plan. They want to bring in new central midfielders for 2026.
The Sticking Point: Brighton’s £100m Valuation
Brighton is pretty firm on Baleba’s price. They expect more than £100 million for him. And they’d much rather keep him until at least the summer. This really high price tag is a major hurdle for United right now. It’s just too much for a January move.
United’s head coach Ruben Amorim also talked about January signings. He said there were “no conversations” about anyone coming in this month. That was on January 2, 2026, ESPN reported. So, that kind of shuts down any immediate hopes for fans. This type of valuation is becoming common. Especially for top young players in the Premier League. Brighton knows what they have, and they want top dollar.
United’s Long-Term Midfield Strategy
United isn’t just looking at Baleba for fun, you know. They genuinely need to rebuild their midfield for 2026. They’re aiming for at least one, maybe even two, top players. Some current midfielders might leave, which opens up spots. Players like Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro could be on their way out. And Manuel Ugarte might also depart.
Ruben Amorim really wants to shake things up. He’s reportedly looking to sign two central midfielders next summer, sources suggest. Baleba is a defensive midfielder, a pretty strong one. He’s good at tactical awareness. And he’s great at screening the defense. He tracks runners well, too. Plus, he has that positional discipline managers love. He sounds like a solid fit for what United needs.
Other Targets on Amorim’s Radar
Baleba isn’t the only name on United’s radar, though. They have a pretty long shortlist. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is one option. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is another. Wharton, apparently, would only consider a move if United qualifies for Champions League football, the Daily Mirror says. That’s a big condition, obviously.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ João Gomes is being looked at too. Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Olympiacos’ Christos Mouzakitis are also on the list. And then there’s Bournemouth star Alex Scott. He recently got his first England call-up. These players are all expected to cost big money, really. Around £100 million each, which is a lot.
Cheaper options exist for January, too. Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid could be available for £35 million next month. And Rúben Neves from Al Hilal is another possibility for this window. United also looked at USMNT captain Tyler Adams. He was considered for a £40 million move. But he got injured after a recent 4-4 Premier League draw against United. So that move is probably on hold for now. ESPN has reported on these broader interests. It’s a busy time for the scouting department.
It’s clear Manchester United wants to rebuild their midfield. But it won’t be a quick fix this January. The focus seems to be on next summer. And they’ll definitely have to pay a pretty penny for top talent. Manager Amorim has the club’s backing for the long term. So he’ll likely get the players he needs eventually. It just won’t be Baleba this month.
Soureesh Datta 
Tanya Singh 
Baishali Karmakar