Man Utd could pull plug on £100m transfer despite ‘agreeing personal terms’ | Football | Sport

Manchester United could walk away from a big-money move for Carlos Baleba, despite agreeing personal terms with the Brighton midfielder. The Red Devils are in the market for a midfielder this summer, having opted against bolstering their options in the middle of the park during the recent January transfer window.

Ruben Neves had been mooted as a potential target for United, while Alexis Mac Allister has emerged as a surprise name in recent days. Elsewhere, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are names that have been mentioned as possible replacements for Casemiro, who is set to leave at the end of the season.

However, Baleba is a player United have been linked to for some time, with talk of a move stretching all the way back to the summer transfer window. A transfer didn’t materialise at the time, but it has been reported by The Athletic that personal terms between Baleba and United have already been agreed, with Brighton said to be holding out for around £100million.

Yet, as the summer transfer window edges closer, there’s a suggestion that United’s pursuit of Baleba might be dropping off a touch. That’s because it’s claimed Ruben Amorim was the main driving force behind a move for Baleba, and as the Portuguese tactician has since left, United could cool their interest.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano said: “Man Utd will be really busy with midfielders in the summer. I expect Man Utd to be really, really busy in that position. It could be one, it could be two, so it could be a really interesting point.

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“Man Utd will not decide in February about the midfielder. They have a shortlist with some names being considered, being monitored. Among those names, there are several options. I told you already, for example, that Elliot Anderson is really appreciated. I told you that Baleba was a top target with Amorim as a coach, let’s see what happens next now with Amorim no longer there.”

Something else United will have to decide on in the summer is their manager, given Michael Carrick is operating on an interim basis following Amorim’s sacking. Carrick has enjoyed a stellar start to life in the dugout, winning four and drawing one of his opening five matches in charge. United return to action at the weekend when they make a maiden voyage to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday to play Everton.