Premier League giants Manchester United have added richly to their attacking ranks, with Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Matheus Cunha amongst the new faces at Old Trafford. Now, attention is turning towards the midfield, with Ruben Amorim prepared to spend big on a deep-lying midfielder.

Cash flow has been a major topic for the Manchester club this window, with the club looking to offload the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Antony to accommodate a move for a top-class midfielder. The wide duo is reportedly close to Chelsea and Real Betis, respectively.

However, it appears the club is not willing to wait, with Graeme Bailey reporting that the club is prepared to offer a deal in excess of £100m for Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba, who has been admired at Old Trafford for several months.

The club has needed to act this way in the transfer market, after a 15th-placed finish last season was far below the standards of old.

Manchester United to Bid £100m for Carlos Baleba

Brighton have made their stance on the Cameroonian midfielder clear, that he is not for sale, having placed a £100m price tag to fend off any potential suitors.

Sources had previously confirmed to The Football Deck that the club was initially plotting to include academy graduate Toby Collyer in a potential deal, as a means of lowering the Seagull’s price tag on Baleba.

Collyer was previously with Brighton’s youth set-up, before joining the Red Devils in 2021, with the 21-year-old reportedly ‘excited’ at the prospect of returning to the South Coast for first-team gametime in the Premier League – especially with the midfielder’s minutes limited at Old Trafford with Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro still at the club.

Not willing to walk away from a potential deal, United are now set to test Brighton’s stance with what would be a club-record breaking transfer fee, in a package worth circa £100m.

A deal for the 21-year-old would likely break Manchester United’s previous record signing, which stands as Paul Pogba, who joined from Juventus in 2016.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Stance

While this offer would certainly test the South Coast club’s resilience in the transfer market, sources had told United in Focus that owner Tony Bloom would expect a fee similar to that which saw Moises Caicedo depart the club for Chelsea two seasons ago.

With the report making no indication of a player being involved, it will be interesting to see whether a straight cash offer would possibly sway a move in Manchester United’s favour.

It is unknown as to how Brighton would be interested in this offer, but it shows United’s willingness to push a deal over the line, having matched a price tag initially put in place to ward off any suitors.

Outgoings at Old Trafford

Forward incomings have been in abundance at Manchester United this window, with Mbeumo and Cunha looking likely to feature in supporting roles behind Sesko in a new-look United frontline.

However, the club is keen to add a goalkeeper and a midfielder in the closing weeks of the transfer window.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of players now surplus to requirements that remain at the club.

Garnacho looks set to depart for Premier League rivals Chelsea, while Antony and Jadon Sancho could yet leave the club in the penultimate weeks of the summer.

To accommodate further funds to improve the squad, United will likely need to rely on these departures for further moves to come into fruition.