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Manchester United are reportedly set to make Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba the most expensive African footballer of all time.
The Cameroon international has emerged as a top transfer target for Ruben Amorim’s side over the past week and the Red Devils are eager to finalise a deal with Brighton before the 2025 summer transfer window slams shut on 1 September.
Paul Barber, the Seagulls’ club chairman, recently confirmed that he is yet to receive an official approach from Man Utd for the 21-year-old, but the Red Devils are closely monitoring his situation and they are expected to intensify their pursuit over the next few weeks.
In fact, France Football journalist Nabil Djellit believes Baleba is likely to join Man Utd before the end of Transfer Deadline Day, with the Brighton star set to break a major record in the process.
“The record for the largest transfer in history for an African player will be broken by Carlos Baleba. I’m betting on it,” Djellit posted on X.
“They’re talking about €130 million behind the scenes. Incredible.”
Nicolas Pepe is currently the most expensive African player in history, courtesy of his €80m move from Lille to Arsenal in 2019, while Victor Osimhen (€78.9m to Napoli) and Omar Marmoush (€75m to Manchester City) are second and third on the list.
However, Baleba is set to usurp them all if he completes a blockbuster summer move to Man Utd.
Carlos Baleba agreed personal terms with Man Utd
News that Man Utd could pay up to €130m to sign Baleba this summer comes after it was reported that he has already agreed personal terms with the Old Trafford outfit.
The Cameroon star still has three years remaining on his current Brighton contract, but he has agreed to complete a Man Utd switch and he has asked the Seagulls to sanction a sale, according to a bombshell report from renowned X account IndyKaila.
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