Manchester United have officially ended their interest in Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer to focus on signing Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to reports from the Manchester Evening News and FootballTransfers. While Palmer remains a high-profile target for several elite clubs, United have deemed the pursuit financially unviable given Chelsea’s £90 million valuation and the player’s contract which runs until 2033. Instead, the club is prioritising the 20-year-old Baleba as a long-term replacement for Casemiro, with Brighton reportedly lowering their asking price to between £60 million and £80 million.
Strategic shift and the Palmer decision
The decision to move away from Palmer is driven by both tactical and financial constraints. According to Sports Mole, Chelsea have no intention of selling their talisman for less than £90 million, a figure United are reluctant to meet after spending over £200 million on Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo in 2024. Tactically, interim head coach Michael Carrick reportedly views the England international as having too much functional overlap with captain Bruno Fernandes, who remains a fixed presence in the number 10 role. Speaking previously on his future, Palmer told the Manchester Evening News: "Manchester is my home... but I don't miss it. I've got no plans to move from Chelsea." With United facing strict PSR monitoring, the club has opted to allocate their remaining 2026 budget toward a deeper midfield profile.
Baleba identified as Casemiro successor
In contrast to the Palmer deal, United have already laid the groundwork for Baleba. As first reported by GiveMeSport, the club agreed personal terms with the Cameroon international as early as August 2025, meaning they do not need to renegotiate with the player side. Transfer insider Ben Jacobs noted on the FootballTransfers podcast that United "still see the potential" in the midfielder despite a recent dip in form at Brighton. The Seagulls have subsequently lowered their initial €100 million demands to a more realistic £70 million range. Journalistic sources suggest United’s recruitment team views Baleba as the ideal physical partner to complement Kobbie Mainoo. With Casemiro’s contract expiring in June 2026 and the Brazilian nearing the end of his peak years, Baleba represents a vital recruitment priority to secure the club's defensive transition.
Negotiations with Brighton are expected to accelerate following the conclusion of the Premier League season, with United aiming to finalise the deal before the start of pre-season training.