Man Utd's next transfer target after Sesko is a 'bully' who wowed top star

Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is wanted by Manchester United, has been given a ringing endorsement by a former Lille team-mate and current Premier League star

Manchester United’s next transfer has been branded a “bully” by a top Premier League midfielder. With United closing in on a move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, attention has shifted to stiffening up Ruben Amorim’s midfield.

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba has emerged as the club’s number one target. It's understood contact has already been made with the south coast club, although his arrival would need to be coupled with departures following United’s summer spending spree and United have quite the job on their hands persuading Brighton to cash in on a player they rate as being worth £100m already.

The 21-year-old has been a revelation since joining the Seagulls from Lille in 2023. Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana was at the French club at the same time and saw a young Baleba take no prisoners when he stepped up to train with the first team.

Onana told the Inside Scoop: “When I arrived, he was playing with the B team. I just saw a strong kid, he’s the strongest kid I’ve ever seen. Jacked! He used to come up [to train with the first team] and be free, he’d bully the pros.”

Onana, 23, said he wasn’t surprised that Baleba is now rated so highly, as he praised his down-to-earth nature. He said: “He’s done his thing and I always knew he had what it takes to get to the high level. He’s a really good kid, really humble, works hard.”

Brighton don't want to sell Baleba this year and will demand £100m given he has three years left on his contract. United value him at closer to £70m and it has been suggested that Baleba could ask the Seagulls to lower their asking price. But with Brighton preferring to sell in 2026 and planning for the upcoming campaign with him, they're unlikely to budge.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has tried to play down the speculation surrounding Baleba. He told a fans’ forum: "We've got some great talent, there's always going to be interest in our players. Manchester United have not been in touch with me. So from that point of view, speculation is speculation. We will always try to make sure we sell our best players at the right time, not just for the player but for us.

"If we end up doing that with any player, it's with the view to leave Fabian [head coach Hurzeler] with a very competitive squad, whatever happens. We don't want to sell our best players.

"Carlos is a fantastic talent who has a lot of years ahead of him. We hope he will be here for many years to come. But it's something that, as always, is subjective to the dynamics of the football world, which isn't always predictable."

First, United are looking to finalise a deal for Sesko, having lodged a bid of around £65.3m plus £8.7m in add-ons. Newcastle also want the Slovenian, but he is believed to be favouring a move to Old Trafford.