Ornstein and Jacobs in complete agreement that £100m Premier League star ‘wants the move’ to United | OneFootball

Ben Jacobs has further corroborated David Ornstein’s claims that Carlos Baleba wants to sign for Manchester United.

Earlier in the week, Ornstein was quoted as saying that the Red Devils still want Baleba, and that the feeling is reciprocated by the player.

It comes after United held talks with the 21-year-old over the summer to gauge the prospect of him making a late switch from the Amex to Old Trafford.

Why United didn’t sign Baleba in the summer

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

However, while Brighton and Hove Albion haven’t set a specific price tag, it’s widely expected they will demand well over £100 million to even consider sanctioning their starlet’s exit.

They view him in the same bracket as his predecessor Moises Caicedo, who was sold for £115m – a British record fee – back in August 2023.

Alas, their valuation was simply unfeasible for United after a window in which they’d shelled out over £200m to completely revitalise Ruben Amorim’s frontline.

Baleba also respected the Seagulls’ decision, ensuring he’d be spending the 2025/2026 campaign on the South Coast.

This season marks the Cameroonian’s third in the Premier League, and it could well be his last.

Baleba still has sights set on United move

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Reports since the summer window closed have assured that Baleba remains a firm option on United’s shortlist for 2026. He joins the likes of Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson as targets who’ve proven themselves in the top flight and, thus, have attracted widespread interest across Europe.

Thankfully for United, if they do decide to revive their pursuit of the Seagulls midfielder, Jacobs believes they’d already have a slight advantage over any other sides in the race after doing the ‘groundwork’ this year.

“With Carlos Baleba, we know nothing is expected to happen mid-season. Brighton have never quoted a number. [The] player wants the move,” said Jacobs on talkSPORT last night.

“If we get a mad summer race for Baleba, for big money, then Manchester United have already done the groundwork.

“I’m not expecting any Baleba drama mid-season because Brighton simply don’t want to even consider a sale until we get to next summer.”

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