Manchester United is preparing to attempt a move for Brighton's 21-year-old midfielder Carlos Baleba, who has been valued at over £100 million, perhaps as much as £120 million. The Seagulls have three years left on his contract, with an option to renew for another year, so they hold the initiative firmly in their hands.
Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that the player is eager to move, and Manchester United is prepared to pursue him vigorously. Brighton, on the other hand, has stated that they are not under pressure to sell this summer, as they are used to charging high prices for their players.
This summer, Brighton has already sold players such as João Pedro, Simon Atingela, and Pervis Estupinan, and has reinvested in the next wave of players, hoping their value will increase again. However, with time remaining until the end of the summer transfer window, they are struggling to find a replacement for Baleba, and are therefore demanding a further increase in the price. According to the London Evening Standard, Manchester United had proposed lowering Baleba's price through a player swap, perhaps by offering midfielder Toby Collier, formerly of Brighton. However, this proposal was rejected, as Brighton expressed no interest in the Red Imps player and demanded a transfer fee exceeding the £115 million Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo two years ago.
However, Manchester United has not given up and intends to continue trying. Amorim's goal in the final two weeks of the summer transfer window is to bring in a midfielder and a goalkeeper. This week, Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain omitted 26-year-old Donnarumma from their squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup, leading to a complete breakdown in relations between the two clubs.
Last weekend, Paris Saint-Germain acquired Luca Chevalier for £47 million. Long-standing contract renewal negotiations with Donnarumma have stalled. Donnarumma demanded an increase to his current £185,000-a-week salary, while Paris Saint-Germain demanded a pay cut. Neither side conceded, and the deal ultimately ended in acrimony.
Donnarumma's management team, dissatisfied with his treatment this summer, is exploring various options. According to Romano, the player is "100% guaranteed" to leave Paris Saint-Germain. However, this doesn't necessarily mean he'll leave this year. He hasn't ruled out playing out the final year of his contract in Paris and leaving as a free agent next year, which would open up more options.
If Donnarumma were to transfer this summer, the Premier League would be his most likely destination. His transfer fee would be just £26 million, a bargain for Premier League clubs. However, his salary demands are a major obstacle, and fans only need to consider one thing: even Qatar Petroleum's financial backers are unwilling to pay his demands!
France's RMC Sport reports that Donnarumma will only transfer this summer if he finds a suitable project, otherwise he would prefer to stay at the Parc des Princes until his contract expires. Donnarumma is confident that the club will ultimately be forced to use him, as his replacement is not easily established.
The French media reports that both Manchester United and Chelsea have recently inquired about the goalkeeper's situation, but no concrete offers have been made. Meanwhile, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Real Madrid are all uninterested in Donnarumma's transfer.
However, Manchester United faces significant obstacles in signing Donnarumma. The €50 million goalkeeper Andre Onana is unlikely to leave this summer, and his weekly salary is between £120,000 and £150,000. Bringing Donnarumma back would significantly overshoot the goalkeeping salary budget. Therefore, it's widely believed that only by selling Donnarumma can the Red Imps secure a new player.
Chelsea has already sold Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arsenal, and Djordje Petrovic has also departed. Roberto Sanchez is currently the team's main goalkeeper, and the Spanish international is just as prone to errors as Onana.
