This summer, Tottenham have taken the early lead in the race for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, while Manchester United still hold a verbal agreement on personal terms but have been overtaken in the transfer pecking order by the North London side. The Cameroon international is valued for his interceptions, ball retention and vertical progression, and sits at the centre of both clubs' midfield rebuild plans.
Transfer race: verbal deal intact, momentum shifts
According to Football Insider, Tottenham are currently "leading" the chase for Baleba. That does not contradict Romano's earlier reporting on United's path—in August 2025, the Red Devils reached a principle agreement with the player on personal terms, with Baleba clearly keen to move, but Brighton rejected two approaches; in January 2026, United indicated they could reopen talks this summer, with the 2025 verbal agreement still valid in 2026 and the player "still very keen to join Manchester United."
In other words, the deal has yet to move into substantive stages, but the competitive landscape has changed: with head coach Roberto De Zerbi now in place, Tottenham have added a "reunion" narrative to their negotiating leverage. De Zerbi previously coached Baleba and knows his movement patterns, passing choices and pressing timing—tactical assets United cannot easily replicate in the short term.
The De Zerbi factor: from technical breakdown to squad logic
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that De Zerbi "probably believes he can get more out of him." That points not to vague "familiarity" but to a specific tactical fit—within Brighton's system, Baleba plays a dual role as a screening midfielder and first-pass outlet: he times his pressing late, keeps a low centre of gravity, holds the ball steadily in duels, and when turning defence into attack relies more on short passes into the half-spaces than long diagonal through balls.
At Brighton, De Zerbi built his front-foot pressing and back-line distribution chains around exactly this type of midfielder. If Baleba were to arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he could theoretically slot seamlessly into the secondary attacking build-up after high pressing; Spurs also need to move quickly to secure a ready-made defensive midfielder amid uncertainty over João Palhinha's future—his loan-with-obligation-to-buy clause with Bayern Munich has expired, and whether he will return remains unclear.
Man Utd Midfield Rebuild: Slots, Budget and Managerial Void
Manchester United are widely expected to need at least two or three midfielders this summer: Casemiro has departed and Manuel Ugarte is listed for sale, leaving the midfield facing a structural overhaul. Romano also stressed that Baleba remains on the shortlist for the scouting department and club hierarchy, but "permanent manager appointment, budget decisions and Brighton's stance" remain variables.
From a sporting perspective, United are not without appeal—player preference and existing verbal agreements are genuine negotiating foundations. The issue lies on the organizational side: before a new manager is in place and the budget is fully clear, Spurs have already packaged "coach plus player" into a more complete sales pitch. For Brighton, while the player is in demand, the club still holds pricing power and control over the timing of any sale; twice refusing to sell during the 2025–26 transfer windows has underscored their reluctance to let him go.
Context and Implications: Summer Window Chess amid End-of-Season Form
Site data shows that in the closing stages of the 2025–26 Premier League season, Brighton lost 0–3 at home to Manchester United, while Spurs won 1–0 on the final day; both clubs are already planning ahead to bolster midfield depth for next season. If Baleba leaves, Brighton must weigh the cost of replacements; if Spurs land him, they can shorten the adaptation period under De Zerbi's tactical system; United, meanwhile, must accelerate decision-making across their midfield recruitment chain without losing out on their preferred targets.
According to sources across the board, this transfer remains in the “interested but undecided” stage: Romano’s line is that it has “not yet been decided or progressed”, while Football Insider’s latest ranking has Tottenham out in front. What could truly break the deadlock is twofold — whether Brighton will soften their stance, and whether Manchester United can swiftly turn a verbal agreement into a formal bid once their new manager and budget are clear. For fans, three storylines worth watching are: whether Tottenham can leverage their De Zerbi connection to complete a third signing, whether United’s midfield shortlist expands to include Adam Wharton or Elliott Anderson among other alternatives, and Brighton’s final asking price for their core players.
