MANCHESTER United have been handed encouragement in their pursuit of Carlos Baleba with Brighton.
Having spent upwards of £200million bolstering the forward line, United have set their sights on strengthening the midfield and have Baleba top of their wishlist.
Reports last week claimed that contact had been made between the two clubs regarding a deal, during which Brighton slapped an asking price of more than £100m on their player’s head.
Tongues were sent wagging over the weekend when Baleba was absent from Brighton’s final pre-season friendly, a behind-closed-doors test against Wolfsburg.
The 21-year-old has now missed his club’s last three pre-season games, having not played since mid-July.
However, The Argus reports that Baleba has been struggling with a knee injury picked up in training and was with the squad on Saturday to watch his team-mates in action.
But United are seeming undeterred amid claims they have seen an opening offer rejected for Baleba which included young midfielder Toby Collyer in part-exchange.
Brighton, meanwhile, are already planning for Baleba’s departure with a succession plan in place.
It is a tried-and-tested formula for the Seagulls, who have seen the likes of midfield stars Yves Bissouma and Moises Caicedo depart in recent years, only for other players to step up.
Diego Gomez and Malick Yalcouye are already in place and with much expected of them. Gomez is an £11million signing from Inter Miami in January, and impressed during the second half of last season, while 19-year-old Yalcouye spent last season on loan at Sturm Graz where he earned rave reviews.
It remains to be seen if Brighton decide to send Yalcouye out on another loan, with the likes of Jack Hinshelwood, Matt O’Riley, Mats Wieffer and Yasin Ayari pushing for more midfield minutes during the upcoming season.
A succession plan is in place at Brighton, which will give United hope, but when a price tag is set on the south coast it is rarely not met.
