Bryan Mbeumo is quietly trying to convince Carlos Baleba to join Manchester United in January | OneFootball

Manchester United attacker Bryan Mbeumo has been trying to encourage Carlos Baleba to push for a move in the January window, according to the Sun.

The Red Devils were linked with the 21-year-old midfielder during the summer transfer window, but did not make a concrete move as Brighton & Hove Albion were not keen on selling.

Baleba’s head has been turned by Man United’s interest, leading to a dip in form and inconsistent performances this term.

He has become closer to Mbeumo while on international duty during Cameroon’s African World Cup qualifying campaign.

Mbeumo has been using the recent international breaks to quietly convince Baleba to join him at the Old Trafford club.

However, Brighton are unlikely to sanction a January transfer exit. A summer deal is more likely.

Man United have been crying out for a defensive midfielder, given their struggles in the middle of the park over the past few seasons.

They bolstered their attack with the additions of Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in the summer, spending over £200m.

However, their fortunes on the pitch have not changed, and manager Ruben Amorim believes a tough-tackling midfielder is the missing piece needed to complete the jigsaw.

Landing Baleba could be the game-changer for Man United, but he needs to bounce back from the bad patch and show what he is capable of doing again.

The Red Devils host Brighton next Saturday, and the youngster has a chance to prove himself in front of the board and fans.