Manchester United Pursue Carlos Baleba Amid Midfield Rebuild
Manchester United are pushing towards a third midfield signing of the summer, with a £60m bid on the table for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and growing expectation that the Cameroon international will end up at Old Trafford.
United have tracked the 22-year-old for over a year, first moving for him last summer when Brighton slapped a price tag in excess of £100m on their emerging asset. That stance has softened after a difficult campaign on the south coast, and United sense their moment. The offer could rise by another £5m, and the feeling inside the deal is that the numbers are now close enough for all sides to find an agreement.
If it goes through, Baleba would become the latest piece in a midfield overhaul that has shifted United’s transfer focus firmly towards energy, legs and resale value rather than marquee names.
Liverpool open door to Curtis Jones exit
On Merseyside, Liverpool are locked in talks with Inter Milan over Curtis Jones, with the Italian champions renewing their push to take the midfielder to San Siro.
No agreement is in place yet, but discussions are active and progressing as Inter test Liverpool’s resolve. A fee in the region of €35m (£30m) is understood to be the level at which Liverpool would be prepared to sign off on a sale, a significant call on a homegrown player who has come through the club’s academy and featured prominently in recent seasons.
While those negotiations play out, Liverpool’s recruitment team remain focused on attacking reinforcements. The club retain an interest in Bradley Barcola after stepping away from a move for his PSG team‑mate Ibrahim Mbaye, with Barcola still viewed as a live option for their forward line.
Arsenal land Konsa to plug defensive gap
Arsenal, meanwhile, have moved decisively. The club have reached agreement to sign Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa in a deal worth around £51m, giving Mikel Arteta the right-sided defender he has been chasing.
Arteta’s plans at the back were jolted by William Saliba’s serious injury, even with Jurrien Timber returning to fitness. A defender comfortable on the right of central defence had been marked as a priority as Arsenal aim to defend their Premier League title and avoid the late-season wobble that has hurt them before.
Konsa, 28, arrives to compete with Cristhian Mosquera as the primary deputy for Saliba alongside Gabriel Magalhaes. The timing is pointed: he could make his debut against his former club Aston Villa next week, a quick reunion that would underline just how aggressively Arsenal are willing to act to keep their title defence on track.
Tottenham circle Savinho and Marmoush in attacking shake-up
North London’s other heavyweight is also on the move. Tottenham are weighing a double attacking swoop, maintaining their long-standing interest in Savinho while also targeting Omar Marmoush as Roberto De Zerbi drives a major reshaping of his squad.
Savinho has been on Spurs’ radar for some time. They considered a £50m move for the Brazilian winger last summer and have never fully stepped away from the idea of bringing him in from Manchester City. His profile fits the club’s push for high-tempo, direct wide forwards.
Now Marmoush has entered the frame as well. Tottenham see the forward as another option to sharpen De Zerbi’s front line after a season in which the club only just avoided relegation. The rebuild is expensive, bold and unapologetic — and these two deals would signal that Spurs have no intention of flirting with the drop again.
