Manchester United officially announces the departure of their second player! The club believes £75 million is enough to sign Baleba, while Anderson is set to join Manchester City.

Manchester United announced on Saturday that 18-year-old left-back Harry Arter has been loaned to Norwich City in the Championship. He will don the number 2 shirt and is eligible to play after registration. Arter spent the first half of the season at Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship, making 21 appearances, but the team is bottom of the table and already relegated. The Red Devils want Arter to play for a more competitive side, hence the move to Norwich, who currently sit 20th in the Championship and are fighting to avoid relegation.

Arter is the 253rd academy player to make a first-team debut for Manchester United, coming on as a substitute against Leicester City in March 2025. He made six appearances in total and won the club's "Jimmy Murphy Award" last season, given to the best young player. Manchester United's official statement read: "Everyone at the club wishes Harry all the best during his time at Carrow Road."

After completing his second loan this season, Arter becomes the second player to leave Manchester United during the January transfer window. The previous departure was winger Sam Mather, who transferred permanently to Turkish side Kayserispor. Midfielder Toby Collyer’s loan move to Hull City, currently fourth in the Championship, has also been agreed but is yet to be announced due to his ongoing injury recovery; the official announcement is expected next week.

Manchester United does not anticipate any major signings during the winter window, with transfer plans set for the summer. According to the UK Daily Mail, United's transfer chief Christopher Viveil believes a fee between £60 million and £75 million would be sufficient to sign Cameroonian defensive midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton.

According to British media rumors, Brighton has been asking for £100 million for 22-year-old Baleba. However, United’s key figures believe a lower, reasonable price could persuade the "Seagulls" to sell. Baleba’s contract runs until 2028, and Brighton holds a one-year option to extend.

But another midfield target for Manchester United might choose a different destination, as Nottingham Forest’s 23-year-old England international Elliott Anderson favors Manchester City. According to I Paper, City scouts have watched Anderson ten times this season, and the player himself has supported the "Sky Blues" since childhood.

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs said: "I think interested clubs do not really value Anderson at £120 million. Both Manchester United and Manchester City are interested, and Chelsea may also join the race. Anderson won’t rush his decision just because of Champions League qualification; he prioritizes long-term development plans, which makes his situation similar to Mbemo and Cunha."

Jacobs compared Anderson to Mbemo and Cunha mainly to keep Manchester United fans hopeful, but the general consensus is that if the rival is Manchester City, the Red Devils have little chance.

Therefore, Manchester United might focus their targets on Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Walton, both of whom have other suitors but are more likely to sign, especially Baleba, who was eager to join United last summer.

Two factors work in United’s favor: first, Manchester City may be unwilling to pay over £100 million for Anderson; second, the commercial value of joining United attracts players. The UK Sun revealed that since his £60 million move to United, 26-year-old English midfielder Mason Mount has earned £6 million off the pitch through business ventures.

Mount owns three companies, including "Stone Elite," which manages his sponsorship deals and image rights. The company’s assets rose from £4.4 million in 2024 to £5.7 million. Mount has contracts with Nike and Pepsi, and recently wore Adidas and Mizuno boots, suggesting potential new brand deals that could increase his income after a transfer.

The Manchester United number 7 also owns separate real estate and finance companies. Despite missing over 50 matches since joining from Chelsea due to injury, his earnings remain unaffected, with a weekly wage of £250,000. During Christmas, Mount vacationed in Finland with his girlfriend Jordan Porter, widely seen as the official announcement of their relationship after they had previously claimed to be just friends.