Copyright manchestereveningnews
Carlos Baleba is said to have held private discussions with Fabian Hurzeler, as Manchester United continue to be linked with the Brighton midfielder . The 21-year-old was the talk of the town this summer, with the Reds holding talks with the Seagulls over securing Baleba's services. The youngster impressed at the AMEX Stadium last term, with three Premier League goals from 34 outings in total, despite being defensive-minded. And as a result, Ruben Amorim and the Manchester United board were keen on securing his services for 2025/26. However, determined to retain the Cameroonian for the news season, Brighton slapped Baleba with an audacious price tag of £100million , which ultimately proved too rich for United's liking. As a result, Baleba remained on the south east coast. However, it is reported now that he is unsettled within the Brighton camp, with the fact that he has been subbed off at half-time on three separate occasions this term only adding fuel to the rumour mill. As per The Sun , United are closely monitoring Baleba's situation at present, although the youngster has reassured his commitment to Hurzeler and his current club. That may not prevent the Reds from re-entering discussions with Brighton come January, however, especially considering Amorim's engine room is still proving particularly problematic. Pundits and fans alike questioned why the United board opted not to improve the heart of midfield this summer, instead splurging over £200m on a new front three of Matheus Cunha , Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko . Others, meanwhile, have ultimately questioned whether Amorim's patented 3-4-2-1 formation is suitable to the Premier League, especially considering Bruno Fernandes is more suited to an attacking role, and Casemiro - at 33 - is unable to cover as much ground. With a budding future ahead of him, Baleba could ultimately be the solution to Amorim's problems in the centre of the park at present, but with the January transfer window still a way away, the Portuguese tactician may have to look inward for the time being. It comes as United have also been linked with a move for VfB Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller at the turn of the year. The 24-year-old has impressed in the Bundesliga this season, with a goal and two assists from seven outings. And as Sky Sports Germany report that Stuttgart intend to ask for upwards of £43m to allow the German international to leave Die Roten, he could come as a cheaper alternative to Baleba. Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories. And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and you can also watch along on YouTube .
