Man Utd close to Brighton deal for Baleba as medical prepared

Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal with Brighton for Carlos Baleba. It was Rob Dorsett who put the story out first on Wednesday morning, saying the fee is expected to exceed £60m and that United are preparing a medical in Manchester as the player gets ready to travel.

The agreement between the clubs has not yet been finalised, with the final structure of payments still to be settled, the report adds. Even so, preparations for a medical indicate confidence that the remaining details can be tied up swiftly.

A medical typically follows once broad terms are in place, though it remains contingent on the clubs ironing out the last elements and the player successfully completing the checks. Until contracts are signed and a formal announcement is made, the situation could still change.

The update did not set out any further detail on personal terms. Nor did it offer a definitive timetable beyond the expectation that the player will head to Manchester as arrangements for the medical are put in place.

According to the same reporting, the overall package is expected to come in above £60m, with the precise breakdown yet to be determined. That figure would reflect both the base fee and how add-ons or staged payments are constructed.

Neither club has issued an official statement at this stage. The level of readiness around the medical suggests the move has advanced significantly, but it stops short of confirmation and remains subject to final agreement and routine formalities.