Man Utd handed Carlos Baleba transfer timeline after opening January talks for £100m star

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Manchester United are 'exploring' a move for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba. The Red Devils have maintained an interest in the 21-year-old since last summer.

According to Sky Sports , United have explored the conditions of signing Baleba this month . However, the report goes on to claim that a move is unlikely to happen after talks with Brighton, as the Seagulls plan to keep hold of the midfielder until at least the summer transfer window.

The £100million-rated Baleba's current Brighton deal runs until 2028 and has the option of a one-year extension. He is currently impressing for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

United spent heavily in the most recent summer transfer window, but it appears that the Reds' big spending under Ruben Amorim is not finished quite yet. Amorim wants midfield reinforcements as his No.1 priority to rebuild his squad.

Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest and Baleba are targets, but former United coach Rene Meulensteen told his old club recently to make Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton their top target next summer. “I’m a big fan of Wharton; I think he should be the number one priority for United next summer," the Dutchman said via BestNewBingoSites.

“He would be the perfect player to add to their squad, but I don’t think the move will be possible until next summer. He’s got great feet, and he is an effective and efficient player.

“He is always looking forward when he has the ball, which is a top-quality trait to have as a midfielder. He’s great in small spaces when he is being closed down quickly, and he always breaks the lines to find his unmarked teammates.

“His range of passing is second to none, and he has Premier League experience playing in the same formation that Amorim is playing at Man United. It’s an absolute no-brainer for United to sign Wharton next summer.”

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Meanwhile, Reds boss Amorim suggested on Friday afternoon that there will not be any major reinforcements this month. He said: “The transfer window is not going to change.

“We have no conversations in this moment to have any change in the squad. There’s a process, there’s an idea that is going to continue.

“We are near the places of the Champions League , but we are near also for like eight teams behind us, so let’s focus on the next game. Just that. Our focus is to win the next game.”

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