‘They went away’ – Premier League club confirm Man Utd withdrew interest in £100m star | Football

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom claims Manchester United simply ‘went away’ once they were told Carlos Baleba was not available in the summertime.

United’s hierarchy identified Baleba as their top midfield goal towards the tip of the transfer window, with Ruben Amorim desperate to usher in a player with dynamism and energy to suit his 3-4-3 formation.

The Red Devils made their first approach for Baleba in early August having already strengthened their attack with the addition of each Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

But Brighton made it clear it will require a suggestion in excess of £100million to have any likelihood of prising Baleba away from the Amex Stadium.

Old Trafford bosses, who reportedly valued Baleba at around £70m, decided to drop their interest consequently, with Fabian Hurzeler reassuring Brighton fans that the Cameroon international wouldn’t be sold.

And though United would go on to strengthen at either end of the pitch by capturing Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens – the transfer deadline got here and went without the club bolstering their midfield ranks.

United supporters managed to maintain speculation over Baleba’s future alive throughout much of the summer on social media. Hurzeler and Amorim, meanwhile, were repeatedly questioned concerning the teenager, right up until the tip of the window.

But in an interview with The Argus, Brighton chairman Bloom said: ‘I don’t think Baleba was a saga.

‘There was interest from Manchester United, and we said that he wasn’t available this summer they usually went away.

‘So we’ve had many greater sagas up to now.’

Bloom is pleased Baleba has put the rumours over his future to at least one side to further establish himself as a ‘massively essential’ figure at Brighton this season.

‘His improvement has been immense,’ he added.

‘He’s a massively essential player to this football club and we’re just delighted that he’s with us for this season.’

Baleba’s team-mate Brighton, Kaoru Mitoma, has also been the topic of incessant transfer speculation and gossip in recent months.

Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr saw a sizeable offer turned down for Mitoma last winter, while Arsenal and Bayern Munich were credited with an interest within the Japan winger in the summertime.

‘There was some interest in January,’ Bloom said when asked if there was any update on Mitoma.

‘But Kaoru is completely committed to the football club, one other key player for us. He has done sensationally well.

‘Again, delighted that he’s a part of our squad because we all know that occasionally a few of our greatest players will likely be sold.

‘But, when that happens, we don’t want too many at anyone time.

‘After which we all the time try to be certain that the players coming in, perhaps players we’ve brought in previous seasons, may help with that situation.

‘But that’s true of virtually every club.’

Although Bloom cannot stop Europe’s elite clubs expressing an interest of their top players – he says the club attempt to be as ‘prepared’ as possible to start out every season with a ‘really competitive squad’.

‘The most effective players, unless you’re potentially Manchester City, Liverpool, Madrid, PSG, almost every club’s best players do get sold,’ he continued.

It’s as much as us to be certain that we’re prepared as much as we will.

‘We are able to’t all the time get the timing right, but we’re as prepared as much as we will be to be certain that, firstly of each season, now we have a very, really competitive squad.’

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