Manchester United could sign Baleba for £70 million! The club fears he might become another Ugarte and is considering alternative targets.

Carlos Baleba's underwhelming performance this season may lead to a significantly lower transfer fee than previously expected. Rumors suggest Brighton might accept a reduced offer, which is both good and not entirely favorable news for interested Manchester United.

According to "Teamtalk," Baleba's transfer fee could drop to £70 million, a substantial reduction from Brighton's earlier £100 million asking price. Last summer, when Manchester United sought to sign Baleba, the "Seagulls" refused to sell, comparing him to Chelsea's £115 million acquisition Caicedo and hinting at a higher price.

However, after being forced to stay, the 22-year-old Cameroon international's performance this season has been far from ideal, arguably quite poor. While he denies it's due to the failed move to Manchester United, his goals, pass completion rate, and tackles have all declined significantly compared to last season. Only Baleba's acquaintances still champion him, such as former teammate Glenn Murray claiming he's better than Caicedo—a view lacking substantial evidence.

Nevertheless, Alex Crook of "talkSPORT" insists that if Manchester United is determined to promote academy star Kobbie Mainoo, Baleba would be the ideal partner to support him.

“It might sound odd because Baleba hasn't performed well for Brighton this season, but I still believe Baleba would be the perfect partner for Mainoo. He's more of a true defensive midfielder, while Mainoo excels at driving forward with the ball,” Crook said. “Wharton has a wide passing range, but Manchester United already have Bruno Fernandes who can do that.”

He added: “I’ve always had a lingering feeling, looking back at last summer and United’s renewed inquiries in January, that Baleba remains their top target. I’d say if you want a blend of Baleba and Wharton, it would be Elliot Anderson or Tonali, so it will be very interesting to see which one United ultimately chooses.”

Another advantage for Manchester United in signing Baleba is the player's desire to join Old Trafford. British media reports that if the Red Devils extend an offer this summer, he will cooperate in pressuring Brighton to complete his dream transfer.

Baleba is an energetic, highly athletic midfielder who can cover large areas of the pitch effortlessly. His strengths lie in defense, excelling at regaining possession from opponents. He also possesses some forward-driving ability, primarily relying on speed and power. His passing and attacking contributions are limited, tending toward safe passes to teammates, averaging only 0.28 chances created per 90 minutes, with shots as low as 0.07.

Manchester United fears Baleba's development after joining could mirror Uruguayan midfielder Ugarte, who cost €60 million and has underperformed at United, being defensively focused but woefully lacking in passing and attack. Baleba has more Premier League experience, but his season's performance also indicates his mentality and consistency aren't fully reliable.

If Manchester United primarily seeks a midfielder who can regain possession and quickly transition to attack, Baleba might be an ideal candidate. However, based on current performances, he isn't the type to transform the team into a possession-dominant side.

Baleba's sharp decline this season is particularly concerning; he wasn't even in the squad for Brighton's 1-0 win over Sunderland last Saturday. British media reports Baleba traveled to the away game, but Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler deemed him not fully ready, opting instead to use 40-year-old veteran James Milner.

British media also states that Manchester United's transfer director Christopher Vivell is less enthusiastic about Baleba, preferring French player Lucien Agoumé. The club contacted the Sevilla player last year, and he has many admirers within United's transfer department.

Like Baleba, Agoumé is a midfield disruptor, outperforming Baleba in key metrics. This season, Agoumé surpasses Baleba in average interceptions, tackles, aerial duels won, passes into the final third, and touches per 90 minutes.

Moreover, the just-turned-24 Agoumé is cheaper. Last year Sevilla priced him at €23 million (£20 million); now it might be slightly higher, but certainly not reaching the £70-80 million or even £100 million levels of Baleba, Anderson, or Wharton.