Manchester United have been sounded out by Carlos Baleba's camp as they explore alternative options for the Brighton midfielder.
Manchester United have been tracking Baleba's progress across his three seasons in the Premier League and explored a deal to sign the 22-year-old 12 months ago. The Cameroon international endured a mixed campaign at Brighton last season, though remains well-regarded at Old Trafford.
Manchester United remain keen to sign a defensive midfielder before the closure of the transfer window, having already added Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos to their midfield group. AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone is also under consideration, with Baleba attempting to engineer his own move.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Baleba's side have made an approach to Manchester United to express his interest in joining the club. "So it's from Baleba's side that they are trying to understand if United can return for the boy or not," Romano told his YouTube channel.
Baleba considers a move to Old Trafford as a 'dream' and is eager to explore its possibility. Manchester United were quoted around £100m to sign Baleba last summer, but it remains unclear how last season's drop-off in performance has impacted Brighton's valuation.
Manchester United are looking for a third midfielder to complete their midfield group, and it's likely that they will continue to explore options in the market. Baleba's interest in joining the club, combined with his high value, makes him an attractive option for the Red Devils.
The developments come after the collapse of the Ederson deal, which may have opened the door for other transfer targets. Manchester United are now checking on the market to see which possibilities can become concrete this summer.
Manchester United's interest in Baleba is not new, as they had already considered signing him 12 months ago. However, it's unclear how the player's recent performances have impacted his value and whether Manchester United are willing to meet Brighton's valuation.
Source: Yahoo Sports