Manchester United not signing Carlos Baleba in January means Liverpool gears up for summer transfer battle: Report

Ayyoub Bouaddi and Christos Mouzakitis are still available in the market, but Ruben Amorim's declaration that he is not looking to make signings in January sends a different message

The Week News Desk By The Week News Desk Updated: January 05, 2026 15:24 IST
Carlos Baleba Carlos Baleba | X

Carlos Baleba is not going anywhere in the winter transfer window, and Brighton sees him as indispensable for the remainder of the campaign. Manchester United have explored the conditions for signing him, but it has now become evident that they will have to wait until summer, reports from England said.

Amidst concerns over the future of Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, Manchester United is well on course to sign one, if not two, central midfielders at the earliest. The 22-year-old Baleba has long been linked to the club along with Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, and Wolves' João Gomes.

Brighton deputy chairman Paul Barber had categorically told the press earlier that his club is well aware of the 22-year-old's worth and was not interested in selling him next summer or any summer thereafter. He also said that the club received "no call from anyone connected to Manchester United" asking about their prized CDM.

The Cameroonian Baleba is contracted by the Seagulls until June 2028 and is expected to cost potential suitors a sum of no less than £100 million, ESPN FC said in a report. Meanwhile, Sky Sports News said in a report that the Red Devils may opt for an alternative if they find one of their other targets open to joining them before the ongoing window shuts. This applies to Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi and Olympiacos' Christos Mouzakitis—players who are currently on the periphery of United's radar, the report added.

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This report, however, contradicts Amorim's statement of being satisfied with the current squad, which he believes is good enough to meet his targets. “The transfer window is not going to change,” the manager said during a press conference on Friday.

Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested in the youngster, who is currently on international duty. Just like United, the defending English champions are also impressed by Baleba's physicality, defensive awareness, ball recovery rate, and technical abilities in the middle of the park.

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