Manchester United has initiated negotiations for Baleba! The truth behind the €112 million transfer rumors has been revealed, and selling three players is the key to success or failure.

According to reports from Cameroon’s "CFOOT," Manchester United has reached an agreement with Brighton for the transfer of Carlos Baleba, stating that the 21-year-old midfielder will join the Red Devils for a fee of €112 million. However, renowned transfer experts like Fabrizio Romano, David Ornstein, and Simon Stone have not mentioned this, indicating that it is undoubtedly a fabricated rumor.

CFOOT has been pointed out as the first source to report his transfer from Lille to Brighton in 2023, but this is not surprising; given their style of reporting rumors, they often get things wrong, yet occasionally hit the mark.

Italian transfer expert Romano has disclosed that Manchester United is planning the Baleba deal, but selling Garnacho, Antony, and Sancho will be crucial for making a higher bid. Romano stated, "Preparations for initial negotiations with Brighton are underway; Brighton hopes to keep the player and sell him in 2026; Baleba himself is eager for a transfer."

The fastest reports regarding this transaction from the British media come from The Independent, which states that Manchester United is prepared to offer £80 million as a fixed transfer fee, plus additional clauses. However, as the summer transfer window closes, Brighton is even less likely to agree to a price reduction. The "Seagulls" are accustomed to scouting, developing, and selling players at the highest prices; if they agree to a discount once, they will face bargaining every time thereafter.

Baleba is another success story of Brighton's incredible scouting system; he joined as a replacement after Caicedo transferred to Chelsea for a British record fee and now may break that record. The team has also sold players like Bissouma and Mac Allister but has always managed to acquire new talent, bringing substantial profits to the club.

Especially with Baleba's contract having a "3+1" year term, Brighton is not under pressure to sell with only two weeks left in the transfer window. The £120 million asking price indicates that the Seagulls wish to retain this player; otherwise, the other party must pay a record amount to change the situation.

Brighton reporter Charlie Haffenden emphasized, "At this stage, Brighton has not agreed to sell Baleba to Manchester United, but negotiations between the two clubs have indeed taken place, and Manchester United initially approached the midfielder's agent. Baleba wants to transfer to Manchester United, but Brighton is not under any pressure; whether to sell is up to the club."

The 21-year-old Baleba is one of the midfielders with the most tackles, blocks, interceptions, and steals in the Premier League last season, and his dribbling and forward passing stats are also impressive. He participated in 36 Premier League matches, starting 31 times and scoring three goals.

Both Manchester United and Amorim see him as the perfect option to strengthen the midfield; however, if they cannot secure him, there are rumors of several "B plan" candidates, such as Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand. The Sun reports that Manchester United believes they can acquire the Danish midfielder for £50 million, significantly cheaper than Baleba.

In 2023, Sporting spent £15 million to bring Hjulmand from Lecce, with a release clause of £68 million, but if certain additional conditions are met, the Portuguese champions may agree to a price reduction. Amorim believes Hjulmand is a cheaper yet equally near-perfect option compared to Baleba, as he is more familiar with his style of play. The new season of the Primeira Liga has already begun, with Sporting winning 2-0 against Casa Pia on Friday, where Hjulmand scored a goal!