Manchester United Faces £68m Transfer Clause Challenge in Pursuit of Backup to Carlos Baleba

Manchester United might have to abandon their efforts to sign their top midfield targets this summer, according to reports from Portugal. The club is keen on acquiring Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, but the asking price, which could reach up to £120 million, appears to be beyond feasible.

Instead, United has considered alternative options, including Morten Hjulmand, the captain of Sporting Lisbon. The Danish midfielder, valued at around £50 million, was admired by United’s manager but is now unlikely to be available. His release clause expired on June 15, and Sporting is not willing to sell key players in this transfer window, especially after selling Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal.

Sporting’s decision aligns with their pattern of holding onto valuable players, with Hjulmand’s contract featuring a release clause that is no longer active. The club has signaled that they will not entertain further sales, making Hjulmand unavailable for transfer this summer.

Manchester United has spent heavily this summer on attacking players, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko for combined fees of over £200 million. Now, attention turns to strengthening their midfield, with Baleba seen as the primary target. Despite Brighton’s impressive eighth-place finish last season, the Seagulls are reluctant to sell after cashing in on other top talents in recent years.

Reports indicate that a move for Baleba remains unlikely unless United can offload other players first, with the transfer window closing soon. The club’s rivals, Liverpool and Chelsea, have spent even more this summer, heightening competition for top midfield talents.

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s current options in the central midfield include Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Toby Collyer, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo, offering some coverage but emphasizing the need for reinforcements.

Despite the challenges, a dedicated fan has set up a crowdfunding campaign to help finance a bid for Baleba, though it has only raised a small portion of the required funds so far.