Tottenham Hotspur enter race to sign Carlos Baleba

Manchester United’s search for midfield reinforcements is expected to remain one of the biggest talking points of the summer window, with the club continuing to assess multiple profiles capable of strengthening the centre of the pitch.

Recruitment staff have been monitoring several players as Michael Carrick looks to reshape the squad ahead of next season.

Competition in the market, however, is likely to make negotiations increasingly difficult.

And one rival club may now be preparing to enter the race for a player United have tracked for months.

Tottenham Hotspur target Carlos Baleba

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to target Carlos Baleba as part of a major squad rebuild under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, as reported by The Independent.

De Zerbi, who took charge of Tottenham in April following what has been described as a desperate attempt to stabilise the club and avoid relegation trouble, is understood to want players already familiar with his tactical approach.

Among the names highest on his wishlist are Baleba, Jan Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen, all players he previously worked with at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Baleba is viewed internally as one of De Zerbi’s preferred options because of their existing relationship dating back to the 2023/24 campaign.

The Italian coach was the man who brought the midfielder to England from Lille in August 2023 and gradually introduced him into Brighton’s first-team setup.

Under De Zerbi, Carlos Baleba made 37 appearances across all competitions during his debut season in the Premier League.

This past season, however, the Cameroon international has struggled to consistently reproduce those same levels, slightly cooling the explosive hype surrounding him from the previous campaign.

That change in momentum has also impacted his valuation.

Manchester United are still understood to admire Baleba, but reports suggest the club now values him closer to £50 million, considerably lower than the £75 million they were prepared to pay last summer.

Brighton, meanwhile, had previously pushed for a fee in excess of £100 million and are still expected to demand a significant amount before considering any sale.

Back in March, it was exclusively reported that Manchester United had already held initial talks with representatives connected to Baleba as part of their early midfield planning for the upcoming transfer window.

However, United’s interest is not limited to one player.

The club are also exploring alternative midfield targets, with names such as Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Ederson all believed to be under consideration.

For Tottenham, securing Baleba would represent an important step in helping De Zerbi quickly implement his preferred style with players he already trusts.

But for Manchester United, Spurs entering the race could complicate a situation that had already looked financially difficult from the start.