Man United reportedly still interested in Brighton midfielder as manager asks him to take responsibility

Manchester United are not ready to give up on their hopes to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, as rumours of the club trying to sign the youngster have started to swirl again in England. United were hugely interested in signing Baleba in the summer transfer window, but Brighton’s sky-high estimation of a fee above £100 million forced the Red Devils to stop in their tracks.

Man United will meet Baleba now in an English Premier League game on Saturday at Old Trafford, which many believe would be an audition for the Cameroonian midfielder.

Man United set to target Baleba in January?

Reports in England state that United would be given a fresh hefty budget in the next two windows, including January, for new players, despite spending big on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko last summer.

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United have won their last two Premier League games, a first under manager Ruben Amorim, and management may give him more resources to tune the squad as per his requirements. And Baleba could be a potential target as his price is set to drop after a not-so-impressive start to the ongoing season with Brighton.

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Hurzeler asks Baleba to take more responsibility

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has stated that rumours regarding a potential transfer have impacted Baleba, but asked him to take responsibility as he is still contracted to the club.

“I think we’re getting to a time now where it’s up to him, where he has to take responsibility as well,” Hurzeler said.

“He can’t change the noise around him, he’s a player for Brighton. No matter what the rumours are, he will be a player for Brighton until [at least] the end of the season. But now he has to take responsibility.

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“Now he has to make a step up and show personality, that’s his next step in his personal development for sure. Like I said in the last weeks, there are waves in development, but you can only get out of it if you take ownership and if you take responsibility, there are some moments where nobody can help you.

“You have to be your own support, your own help. He has the best environment here he can get, he has great team-mates who are there for him and support him.

“But now it’s also up to the player that he steps up, that he shows personality and takes ownership of his development. That’s what I demand from him in the future.”