Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba has publicly addressed the intense speculation surrounding a potential £100 million move to Manchester United, confessing he placed significant pressure on himself during the summer window.
Baleba's Battle with Transfer Speculation
The 21-year-old Cameroon international was identified as a prime target to revitalise United's midfield last summer. However, United's hierarchy ultimately decided against meeting Brighton's substantial valuation, choosing to allocate funds to other areas of new manager Ruben Amorim's squad instead.
Baleba, who remained on the south coast, has experienced a challenging start to the current campaign, failing to replicate the form that saw his price tag soar. Speaking ahead of the upcoming AFCON tournament, the player denied the transfer rumours directly caused his dip but admitted to internal struggles.
"I don't think it affected me. But I had a lot of pressure on me," Baleba stated. "When I started the season, I wanted to [have] the same performances as last season. Every day I try to work hard and to get [back] to my level. Did I put too much pressure on myself? Yes, I think so, but I think that's good."
The Ongoing Kobbie Mainoo Saga
While United retain an interest in Baleba, with other midfielders like Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Joao Gomes also under consideration, a major subplot continues to unfold regarding a current squad member.
The future of homegrown talent Kobbie Mainoo remains uncertain. The 20-year-old, yet to start a Premier League game this season, saw a summer loan request rejected. The situation escalated this week when his half-brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, attended United's chaotic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan 'Free Kobbie Mainoo'.
Mainoo received a rapturous welcome from fans when brought on as a substitute in that match, highlighting his popularity. Manager Ruben Amorim was not questioned about the t-shirt incident post-match but had previously discussed the midfielder's situation at length.
"First of all, I say the same thing: the team comes first," Amorim said when asked about a potential January loan. "If Kobbie comes to me and talks to me, I will talk to him... I just want my players happy, and I understand that every individual has their goals. The frustration doesn't help anybody."
Social Media Reactions from Young Stars
The Mainoo t-shirt was not the only notable social media activity following the Bournemouth clash. Two of United's teenage prospects, Harry Amass and Chido Obi, appeared to respond to comments made by Amorim in his pre-match press conference.
The manager had noted that Amass was "now struggling in the Championship" on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and that Obi "is not always a starter in under 21s." Shortly after, Amass posted a photo of himself with Sheffield Wednesday's Player of the Month award for November, while Obi shared a clip of himself scoring for the U21s against Manchester City. Both posts were later deleted.
As the January transfer window approaches, the focus at Old Trafford remains on resolving midfield dynamics, with external targets like Baleba still in the frame and internal tensions requiring careful management.
