Man United cooling interest in Baleba gives advantage to Newcastle United | OneFootball

Newcastle United have turned their attention to Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as Matthias Jaissle looks to rebuild a midfield transformed by two major summer departures. Bruno Guimarães has joined Arsenal for £75 million, while Sandro Tonali moved to Tottenham for £100m, leaving Newcastle with significant money to reinvest but also two enormous gaps to fill.

Baleba has now emerged as an attractive solution because of his Premier League experience, physicality and long-term potential.

The development is particularly interesting for Manchester United, who have admired the Cameroon international for several transfer windows but appear increasingly unlikely to compete with Newcastle this summer.

Newcastle United seriously considering Baleba

According to talkSPORT, Newcastle have identified Baleba as a potential replacement for Guimarães and Tonali as Jaissle searches for a more experienced midfielder to complement younger summer arrivals Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur.

Baleba already has 92 Premier League appearances for Brighton despite being only 22, making him considerably more proven than Newcastle’s teenage additions.

Man United’s long-standing interest has cooled after their midfield recruitment this summer.

TEAMtalk reports that United are unlikely to pursue Baleba, potentially leaving Newcastle with a clear opportunity.

The same report claims Newcastle believe a deal could potentially be struck for around £65m, although Brighton are expected to negotiate strongly.

Man United have cooled interest in the midfielder

This feels like an opportunity Newcastle should seriously explore.

Baleba is not a direct replacement for either Guimarães or Tonali, but his athleticism, ball-winning and ability to drive through midfield could give Jaissle a powerful foundation for his new-look side.

For Man United, seeing Baleba join Newcastle could eventually sting. He had been one of their most admired midfield targets, but their priorities have shifted after strengthening elsewhere.

United’s focus has now moved towards signing a new left-back rather than another midfielder.

The biggest concern for Newcastle is Baleba’s current ankle ligament injury, which will keep him out at the beginning of the season. That makes paying a major fee slightly riskier.

Still, £65m would look far more attractive than the nine-figure valuations previously associated with the midfielder.