Roy Keane sends Carlos Baleba transfer warning to Manchester United

Roy Keane sends Carlos Baleba transfer warning to Manchester United - 'You don't know'

Man United are interested in the possibility of signing Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba ahead of the transfer window closing.

Roy Keane has shared his thoughts on Carlos Baleba. (Image: Stick to Football podcast/The Overlap.)

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes the club should distance themselves from the possibility of paying a nine-figure fee for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.

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With just over two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining, United are still in the market for a midfielder, and Baleba has emerged as a top target.

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Since joining Brighton from Lille two years ago, the Cameroonian has gone from strength-to-strength, establishing himself as one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the world. He is capable of doing a little bit of everything in the engine room, meaning he has an attractive profile.

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Despite signing Manuel Ugarte in an attempt to fix their long-term midfield woes last summer, United still need fresh blood in that area of the team. Bruno Fernandes is a guaranteed starter ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener against Arsenal, but there is an ongoing debate about who should start next to him.

Some outlets have suggested Brighton could demand £100million to sell Baleba amid his potential, meaning it feels incredibly unlikely United will be able to fund a deal for him before the end of this window. The Reds have already spent nearly £200m this summer.

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And in the opinion of former Reds midfield ace Keane, it is too early to be able to tell if Baleba is worthy of such an eye-watering price tag.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane said: "I'd be surprised if it happened. Because I still think that kid, he's got to do a bit more.

"You're talking about £100m, but I still think it's potential with a lot of these players. You can't pay £100m for a player where you don't know which way he's going to go."

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Since joining Brighton in August 2023, Baleba, 21, has made 77 appearances for the club, chipping in with four goals. Of his 77 Seagulls appearances, 61 of them have been made in the Premier League.

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