Manchester United are unlikely to further pursue a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.
United are keen to strengthen their options in central midfield and identified Baleba as their top target this summer.
The Cameroon international made 40 appearances in all competitions for Brighton last season and emerged as one of the league’s most promising all-action midfielders.
However, widespread reports now indicate that United are set to park their interest in Baleba after holding direct talks with Brighton.
The Red Devils are still keen on the midfielder, but it was made clear to them that Brighton would not entertain any sale this summer for Baleba, who still has three years left on his current deal.
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The Seagulls are intent on keeping the 21-year-old at the club for at least another season, and believe they can generate a fee similar to the £115million they received for Moises Caicedo if they do eventually decide to sell.
Speaking earlier in the day, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler insisted he was ‘very, very confident’ that Baleba would still be at the club come the end of the summer window.
‘I didn’t see any change, he’s only changed his hair. I think that’s the only change he’s made in the last two weeks,’ Hurzeler added when asked how Baleba had dealt with the reported transfer interest.
‘But overall he seems to be in a really good place, he’s enjoying it with his team-mates, he’s enjoying being a Brighton player.’
United may now consider other options this window as they look to bolster their midfield ranks, with reports crediting them with an interest in Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand.
The Danish international was brought to Sporting by Amorim from Lecce and helped drive the Portuguese side to back-to-back titles.
It is believed that a £50m could be enough to tempt Sporting to cash in on the 26-year-old.
In the meantime, United will have to consider other options in midfield, with Ruben Amorim indicating that both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount could be deployed in deeper roles to aid his side.
‘I want Bruno near the ball, so that is really important for our team, but last year, sometimes I felt like I need Bruno near the goal,’ Amorim said ahead of United’s opening league clash with Arsenal.
‘We have now players with different characteristics that can cope with that so we will try to arrange game-by-game the players in the best position.’
On Mount he added: ‘Maybe Mason Mount is a player that can play in that position if we want something different.
‘But then we are going to find out during the season. But we have players to cope and win games in the Premier League.’
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