Man Utd target Carlos Baleba's response to transfer interest spoke volumes

Manchester United target Carlos Baleba highlighted his elite mentality when dismissing transfer rumours last year. The Brighton star has attracted interest from a number of top clubs, but rather than getting caught up in all the noise, Baleba has insisted he just wants to get his head down and work hard.

United have splurged well over £100million on attacking talent this summer and are nearing a deal for another forward - Benjamin Sesko - for a fee of around £74m.

But they are yet to secure a central midfielder, arguably one of the areas they most need to bolster, especially considering Ruben Amorim's doubts about Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, as well as the fact that Casemiro is not getting any younger.

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That could soon change, though, as reports emerged on Wednesday eveningclaiming United intermediaries had reached out to Brightonto discuss a potential deal for 21-year-old Cameroonian.

Baleba matches the profile of the midfielder Ineos have been targeting for United, considering his age, skillset, and top-flight experience. Rio Ferdinand told United chiefs to prioritise a move for him over Sesko last month, labelling him as a midfielder who can 'do it all'.

The 21-year-old has also shown valuable traits, including a strong work ethic and humility during his short time at Brighton. He demonstrated his character last year when quizzed about being linked with a transfer amid rumoured interest from clubs like Liverpool.

When asked about talk of a potential move to other Premier League sides, Baleba emphasised he was not focused on other clubs. Instead, he stated he was eager to keep progressing and even hinted he may not be ready to be a star player at a top club.

"I don’t really think like that: playing for two or three years and then leaving. Me? I just work. In my head it’s all about working and helping my club," he told Sky Sports.

"If I can help a team-mate, I will. If they can help me, I’ll accept that help to push forward and develop. So, I just work to help my team and for myself, to progress for the future.

"In return, everyone who helps me wants me to go to the highest level. And if there are big clubs who want me, it’s not something that worries me or gets me excited. I just need to work hard and keep a cool head.

"I don’t know if I’m going to be the star or the next big thing. For me, being the star is quite a lot. Everyone talking about you, singing your name? That just doesn’t do it for me.

"It’s not something that gets me running. I just prefer getting my head down and working on the pitch."

The Red Devils appeared to receive a boost in their plans to sign Baleba when journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that agreeing personal terms is unlikely to be a stumbling block with the player, who still has three years remaining on his current contract at the AMEX Stadium.

However, Brighton chief Paul Barber has since denied claims of United making an approach for the player, labelling the transfer links as mere "speculation". The Athletic also reported that Brighton have no plans to sanction a sale this summer and wish to retain Baleba for another year.

That could be a significant setback to Ruben Amorim's hopes of signing him, given Brighton's reputation for being tough negotiators. At this point, it also seems unlikely that United will be in the financial position to offer the sort of moneythat would be required to tempt Brighton into parting with their star player.

The Cameroon international joined Brighton in 2023 following the departures of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo. Since his arrival, he has developed into one of the Premier League's most impressive central midfielders, featuring in 77 matches for the Seagulls across all competitions.

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