Manchester United considers Baleba a done deal! Bruno Fernandes reveals future plans, discloses his desire to join Bayern

Manchester United’s confidence in acquiring Brighton’s Carlos Baleba this summer continues to rise; as long as the clubs agree, signing him will be a simple task. The 22-year-old Cameroonian international is ready to join the Red Devils without any doubt, which sets him apart from other top candidates Elliott Anderson and Adam Walton.

No matter who takes charge of Manchester United after this season, the club intends to restructure the midfield this summer. Veteran Casemiro will turn 34 in February, and his contract expires at the end of this season, making his departure highly likely.

Youth academy midfielder Kobe Meno and the €60 million defensive midfielder Ugarte also face uncertain futures, so Manchester United is bound to reinforce their midfield positions.

Current manager Carrick is unlikely to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window; he is expected to finish the remaining 17 Premier League matches this season with the existing squad. This is unsurprising since, before Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover, Manchester United did not sign any players during the 2019 and 2022 winter windows under interim managers Solskjær and Rangnick.

However, well-informed sources reveal that Manchester United is increasingly optimistic about securing Baleba from Brighton this summer. Baleba’s contract runs until 2028, and the transfer fee remains the only obstacle to his move to Old Trafford. Last year, he was frequently linked with Manchester United, but after failing to join, his form dipped, causing his market value to drop.

This season, Baleba has been substituted off at halftime seven times, both for club and country; four of these were by Brighton’s coach Fabian Heitzler and three while representing Cameroon. This indicates a clear decline in his performance.

Brighton’s vice chairman Paul Barber recently insisted there are no plans to sell Baleba this year. British media believe this is the “Seagulls” making their stance clear—they will only sell Baleba for the right price, which is believed to be around £100 million.

Using data-driven recruitment, Brighton has found success. They first developed and sold Bissouma for a high fee, then signed Moisés Caicedo and sold him to Chelsea, and now they aim to make a substantial profit through Baleba. After Cameroon was eliminated by Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, Baleba returned to England alongside Manchester United’s Mbeumo, hoping to improve his performances for Brighton in the second half of the season.

Manchester United believes Baleba’s fair price should be below £80 million, with Bournemouth’s Alex Scott considered as an alternative. Over the past seven years, United has only purchased two defensive midfielders—Casemiro and Ugarte—but this summer’s number might match or even exceed that!

This depends on captain Bruno Fernandes’s decision. Although compatriot manager Amorim was dismissed, Bruno has confirmed he will not seek a transfer in January and will reconsider his future in the summer. According to BBC, Bruno has pledged to remain with Manchester United for the rest of the season and will evaluate his options afterward.

The Saudi Professional League has long been interested in the Manchester United captain. Al Hilal offered a £100 million transfer fee plus a £700,000 weekly wage, but Amorim convinced Bruno to stay.

European giants Bayern Munich and other clubs are also interested in Bruno Fernandes. Foreign teams could activate his release clause, set at €65 million (£57 million). The 31-year-old is reportedly very eager to wear Bayern’s jersey because he believes the club has the strength to win major trophies, which he feels is completely different from Manchester United.