Overview

• Manchester United plan fresh negotiations with Brighton over a potential Carlos Baleba transfer, according to reports.
• Brighton chief executive Paul Barber and head coach Fabian Hurzeler have publicly insisted the midfielder is not for sale and rejected an opening player-plus-cash offer.
• Reports place Brighton’s asking price for Baleba between £100 million and £112 million, a figure that would set a new record for an African player.
• United’s summer outlay of more than £200 million has left limited budget and increased pressure to sell fringe players to fund any midfield signing.
• Current United squad members and intermediaries have been enlisted to court Baleba as the club prioritises his capture before the September deadline.