Bryan Mbeumo is trying to convince Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba to join Manchester United, according to reports.
United made an approach to sign Baleba in the summer transfer window but were told by Brighton that the 21-year-old is not for sale.
I don’t think Baleba was a saga,’ Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said in an interview with The Argus this week.
‘There was interest from Manchester United, and we said that he wasn’t available this summer and they went away.
‘So we’ve had many bigger sagas in the past. But Carlos Baleba, his improvement has been immense.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
‘Massively important player to this football club, and just delighted that he’s with us for this season.’
Baleba has been valued in excess of £100 million and United were unable to finance another major deal in the summer having spent £215m on signing Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, Diego Leon and Senne Lammens.
According to The Sun, Mbeumo has not given up hope of United signing Baleba and the 26-year-old has been ‘sharing the delights’ of his own move to Old Trafford with the Brighton midfielder.
Mbeumo and Baleba both play for Cameroon’s national side and the United forward is seen as a ‘big brother’ towards his younger teammate.
Speaking last month, former Chelsea, Newcastle United, Real Madrid and Cameroon midfielder Geremi backed Baleba to become one of the world’s best midfielders.
‘I think it’s a pity that Manchester United didn’t manage to sign him, because this guy is the future,’ Geremi told BestBettingSites.co.uk.
‘When you look at him, he’s definitely got the ability. I can’t call him the best midfielder just yet, but he’s ready to prove it on a bigger stage.
‘But when you take a good player and improve the quality of those around him, then they improve even more quickly. For all the problems at United right now, I think Baleba would have benefited from that step up. He really is going to be the next top player. I’ve watched him a few times, and I hope he has good people around to advise him.
‘He can play with both feet, and at his young age, what he needs to focus on is his decision-making. What we need to see is that he has the awareness and maturity to make the right decisions consistently. If he keeps up with that, he’ll be a very good player.
‘Perhaps United will come back in for him. But even if it’s another club, the important thing is that he doesn’t let his performances drop down. If he keeps playing like this, he’ll get his big move.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.