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Man United close in on £60m-plus Baleba deal

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2 hours ago

August 19, 2026

Man United are closing in on a £60m-plus deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as Michael Carrick looks to strengthen the squad

Manchester United are closing in on a £60m-plus deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with Manchester, England, the club continuing negotiations on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, as manager Michael Carrick seeks to strengthen his midfield before the new Premier League season.

Also read: Arsenal Prepare Final Alvarez Bid Before Transfer Deadline

United have submitted an initial offer worth £60m for the 22-year-old Cameroon international, according to BBC Sport, although Brighton value Baleba higher and talks remain ongoing.

The renewed approach represents a significant change from last summer, when Brighton placed a valuation of more than £100m on the midfielder and United decided against meeting the asking price.

United returned to the player after their pursuit of Matheus Fernandes failed earlier in the summer. Baleba has remained an attractive option because of his physical strength, defensive ability and capacity to carry the ball through midfield.

The proposed deal would take United’s summer spending on midfielders to a substantial level. Andrey Santos arrived from Chelsea for £48m, while Youri Tielemans joined from Aston Villa for £35m in July.

Carrick is nevertheless keen to add further depth and energy to his midfield, particularly with Mason Mount currently dealing with a foot problem sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8.

Baleba is also unavailable at present. The Brighton midfielder is expected to spend another two to three weeks recovering from an ankle injury suffered during the club’s pre-season training camp in Austria.

Despite the injury, Baleba remains central to the transfer negotiations. The midfielder made 35 appearances for Brighton last season, including 31 Premier League starts, while receiving seven yellow cards.

His involvement was, however, lower than during the previous campaign. Baleba made 23 Premier League starts and eight substitute appearances in 2025/26, compared with 31 starts and three substitute appearances in 2024/25.

That decline has contributed to Brighton’s reduced valuation, making a potential deal considerably more realistic than it was 12 months ago.

Baleba’s reported willingness to move to Old Trafford has further encouraged United, although Brighton have yet to agree to the initial £60m proposal.

The midfielder’s profile also fits a specific need in Carrick’s squad.

Santos and Tielemans provide additional options, but Baleba offers the powerful ball-winning and box-to-box qualities United have been seeking.

Brighton are preparing for their UEFA Conference League play-off first leg against Tromso in Norway on Thursday, with Fabian Hurzeler’s squad scheduled to travel on Wednesday.

Baleba’s future, meanwhile, is likely to remain a major talking point as the transfer deadline approaches.

Also read: Arsenal Prepare Final Alvarez Bid Before Transfer Deadline

United will now hope negotiations can bridge the gap between their opening offer and Brighton’s expectations, with the club eager to secure a midfielder they first attempted to sign a year ago.

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Arsenal target Man Utd youngsters Scanlon, Ogunneye

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Mariam Balogun

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Arsenal target Man Utd youngsters Scanlon, Ogunneye

Published

1 hour ago

August 19, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Arsenal are working on deals for Man Utd youngsters James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye as the Premier League champions strengthen their youth ranks

Arsenal and Manchester United are in talks over potential moves for James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye in London on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with Arsenal working to recruit the two promising United youngsters before the summer transfer window closes.

Also read: Man United close in on £60m-plus Baleba deal

According to The Telegraph, Arsenal are pursuing deals for both players and are increasingly confident that agreements can be reached this summer. The report does not indicate that either transfer has been completed.

Scanlon, 19, is an attacking player who has represented Gibraltar at senior international level. The youngster has already collected 24 caps for the national team and has continued to develop through Manchester United’s academy system.

The Gibraltar international spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan at Swindon Town, giving Scanlon valuable experience of senior football away from United’s Carrington training base.

Scanlon’s international career has also provided a notable milestone. The Manchester United academy product became Gibraltar’s youngest-ever goalscorer and the youngest player to score in the UEFA Nations League.

Ogunneye, 20, is a right-back who has also been involved around United’s first-team environment.

The London-born defender spent part of last season on loan at Newport County, where Ogunneye gained further experience in senior football.

Ogunneye has previously been included in United first-team matchday squads, underlining the regard in which the club has held the defender during his development.

Arsenal’s interest in the pair forms part of a wider effort to strengthen the club’s youth structure.

Reports suggest the club have been actively searching for young players who can develop into first-team options rather than focusing solely on established names.

The potential double move is particularly intriguing because Manchester United have themselves benefited from recruiting young Arsenal talent in recent seasons.

Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi-Martin both left Arsenal’s academy for United, making a possible move in the opposite direction an interesting twist in the rivalry.

Arsenal also have practical reasons for strengthening their youth ranks. Reports have linked the club’s recruitment plans to the need for additional options in wide areas and at right-back, while injuries and academy departures have created openings for new prospects.

For Manchester United, losing two academy players to a direct Premier League rival would represent a significant decision.

Both Scanlon and Ogunneye have shown enough potential to attract serious interest, but neither has yet established a regular place in United’s senior side.

There is also no suggestion at this stage that the deals are imminent. The latest reports indicate that Arsenal are confident agreements can be reached, rather than confirming that terms have already been settled.

Also read: Curtis Jones: Inter Milan agree £30m deal for Liverpool midfielder

With the summer window approaching its final stages, the next few weeks could determine whether Arsenal complete what would be a striking double raid on Manchester United’s academy.