While the club is close to a full agreement with Brighton over Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba, the message from Manchester is clear: Bruno Fernandes is not for sale at any price.
Manchester United is close to a full agreement with Brighton over the transfer of Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to Sky Sports. The club has already prepared a five-year contract for the player, which he will sign as soon as the deal between the clubs is formally concluded.
Medical examinations will be scheduled immediately after the transaction is finalized. Sky Sports News has reported on United's interest in Baleba since last autumn, and the club also made inquiries about him during the January transfer window.
United also attempted to bring in Baleba last summer at the very end of the transfer window, but they backed away due to Brighton's valuation exceeding £100 million. Now the price is significantly lower, and after the failed attempt to sign Matheus Fernandes, United has returned to the Cameroonian. Their initial offer of £60 million is still below Brighton's expectations, but negotiations are ongoing.
Baleba remains one of United's main targets this summer and is expected to become the third midfield addition after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. The Cameroonian arrives as a solution for a midfield that the club has been strengthening throughout the transfer window.
Andrey Santos joined from Chelsea for £48 million, and Youri Tielemans arrived from Aston Villa in July for £35 million. Mason Mount has played well alongside Santos in the first three pre-season matches, but he is struggling with a foot injury sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8.
Last season, Baleba made 35 appearances for Brighton, with seven yellow cards as a defensive midfielder. He is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury picked up during pre-season and is expected to be out for another two to three weeks.
While United is strengthening, they simultaneously refuse to entertain any talk of selling captain Bruno Fernandes. According to the BBC, Turkish side Galatasaray and Italian giants Juventus and Milan have considered sending offers for the Portuguese midfielder.
Galatasaray has reportedly prepared a bid that could reach €50 million with bonuses, which is around £42.7 million. However, the message from Manchester United is clear: the 31-year-old Fernandes is not for sale.
Club sources say no official offer has arrived yet, but they emphasize that United would not accept his sale at any price.
The situation is markedly different from last summer, when the club's management left the decision to Fernandes on whether to accept a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal. The Portuguese later admitted that the club's stance "hurt" him.
This time, United's leadership has made it clear they want to keep their captain, regardless of interest from other clubs in Turkey, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton side travel to Norway on Wednesday for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off against Tromsø on Thursday.
