Manchester United are currently unwilling to meet Brighton and Hove Albion's steep asking price for Carlos Baleba this summer, according to reports. The Red Devils have identified Baleba as their next priority transfer target after addressing Ruben Amorim's attack, but any deal would be complicated.

Brighton have grown a strong reputation as firm negotiators, becoming masters of scouting and buying young players on the cheap before cashing in for seismic profit. Baleba looks like the next opportunity on the conveyor belt, but an Amex Stadium exit this summer, to United or another suitor, appears unlikely.

According to the Telegraph, Brighton would want in excess of £100million to part ways with the 21-year-old midfielder before the deadline.

It's claimed that United are currently unwilling to meet those demands after already splurging more than £200m to sign Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

INEOS are said to have earmarked Baleba as the ideal profile to add to Amorim's midfield, which is desperately missing an athletic presence alongside Bruno Fernandes.

But United's 15th-place finish last season and the subsequent lack of European football mean the club faces PSR and FFP restrictions.

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The report adds that United have not directly held talks with Brighton over Baleba, instead using intermediaries to test the waters.

Brighton also have no intentions to actively attempt to cash in on the Cameroon international but would listen to suitable offers.

The Seagulls are said to be looking for a similar fee to the £115m that Chelsea paid to sign Moises Caicedo in 2023, though.

If United are to have any chance of generating the funds to sign Baleba, player sales will be crucial in the coming weeks.

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The Old Trafford giants have not yet completed a single first-team sale, despite the expectation of a transformational summer.

They will save around £15m during the duration of Marcus Rashford's season-long loan at Barcelona.

Meanwhile, sell-on clauses plus the £5m Chelsea paid to break their obligation to sign Jadon Sancho after his loan spell have raised just over £20m.

But Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Antony, Sancho and Tyrell Malacia remain in the shop window, with their suitors believed to be leaving it late to try and snag a cut-price deal.