Liverpool has reportedly entered the competition to secure the transfer of Carlos Baleba, as Manchester United also pursues the Brighton midfielder, according to Romano, who has indicated when a potential £104m deal might be finalized.
Reports suggest that Liverpool has joined Manchester United in the pursuit of Carlos Baleba from Premier League powerhouse Brighton.
Baleba has risen to prominence as one of the top young midfielders in the Premier League, garnering interest from multiple clubs.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Manchester United has shifted their focus to the Brighton star after successfully outmaneuvering Newcastle United to acquire Benjamin Sesko as their third major summer signing, following Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
It remains uncertain whether a deal can be reached, as a recent report indicated that Brighton ‘believes’ they can sell their valuable asset for approximately £104m.
This situation may place the midfielder beyond Manchester United’s financial reach, especially since Sesko has pushed their summer expenditures to around £200m, while Marcus Rashford is the only member of their so-called bomb squad to depart.
Additionally, it has been disclosed that Manchester United is facing competition from rivals for Baleba, with Caught Offside reporting that Liverpool and Spurs are ‘interested in’ the Brighton star and have ‘joined the race’ to acquire him.
Liverpool appears to have more flexibility than Manchester United to finalize additional marquee signings, as Harvey Elliott is expected to follow Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Jarell Quansah in departing to balance their finances amid a £150m investment in summer acquisitions.
The Reds have already secured the signings of Hugo Ekitke, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong, although reports indicate they are still seeking a striker, winger, center-midfielder, and/or center-back in the final weeks of this summer’s transfer window.
Regarding Liverpool’s interest in Baleba, Caught Offside’s report further stated:
‘Liverpool, on the other hand, sees Baleba as an ideal addition to their system as they aim to revamp their midfield.
Wataru Endo is nearing the end of his career, and the Reds need to strategize for the future.’
On Friday evening, Fabrizio Romano shared an update regarding Manchester United’s interest in Baleba and indicated when discussions with Brighton about a potential transfer might occur.
“For Manchester United, their primary focus remains on Sesko, but they are still in contact with Carlos Baleba. They acknowledge that finalizing a deal is quite challenging. However, I have been informed that they continue to communicate,” Romano stated on his YouTube channel.
“Brighton would demand a substantial fee for Baleba. Nevertheless, Manchester United has taken their initial steps. They are relatively calm and are assessing whether there is an opportunity available. Baleba is highly regarded by Ruben Amorim.
“This will not be a swift transaction. Brighton is not inclined to sell the player this summer. Perhaps next summer, following the World Cup, there might be a discussion.”