Manchester United’s decision not to match Tottenham Hotspur’s offer for Mateus Fernandes has divided opinion, with some viewing it as a missed opportunity while others see it as a financially responsible move.

The Portuguese midfielder completed a club-record £85 million transfer from West Ham to Tottenham, handing the Hammers a significant profit. Although United had been strongly linked with the 21-year-old, the club ultimately chose not to commit such a substantial portion of its transfer budget to secure his signature.

United were determined to avoid an expensive bidding battle for Fernandes.

Despite impressing individually since arriving in the Premier League, Fernandes has suffered relegation in each of his two seasons in England. While his performances have stood out statistically, they were not enough to prevent his teams from dropping into the Championship.

With Champions League football returning to Old Trafford next season, United may have concluded that Fernandes is not yet the finished product required to strengthen the squad at the highest level. Another possible factor is the club’s valuation of the player, believing the transfer fee exceeded his current market worth and deciding against entering a costly bidding war.

By stepping aside and allowing Tottenham to complete the signing of Mateus Fernandes without entering the race, Manchester United signalled their confidence that alternative midfield targets would offer greater value. It is therefore no surprise that the club have renewed their interest in Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.

United have tracked the 22-year-old for some time, but Brighton have so far resisted approaches for the Cameroon international. With the transfer window progressing, however, the conditions could now be right for both clubs to negotiate a deal that suits all parties.

Following Casemiro’s departure, United are in need of a commanding presence in midfield, and manager Michael Carrick is believed to be searching for a player capable of combining defensive strength with a goal threat.

Midfielders who possess that blend of physicality, technical quality and attacking contribution are in high demand, making them difficult to recruit. As a result, any move for a player fitting that profile is likely to come at a significant cost.

When Manchester United previously enquired about Carlos Baleba around 12 months ago, Brighton & Hove Albion are understood to have valued the midfielder at close to £100 million, a figure that was quickly dismissed at the time.

Since then, it has been suggested that the player is open to a move to Old Trafford, which could give United some leverage in negotiations. However, Brighton are still expected to demand a significant fee and would aim to maximise their return, with any deal unlikely to fall below £70 million.

With attention currently focused on the World Cup, transfer discussions have taken a back seat, but the return of club football is fast approaching. Pre-season fixtures are set to begin shortly, and the new Premier League campaign is just seven weeks away.

If United are serious about securing Baleba’s signature, there is a growing sense that decisive action will be required rather than prolonged negotiation over valuation differences.

While caution in the transfer market is understandable, there are moments when clubs must consider the bigger picture.

The key question for Manchester United is what exactly they would be getting for a significant investment in Carlos Baleba.

For starters, the Brighton midfielder is not expected to offer the same attacking output that Casemiro provided during his time at Old Trafford, unless his role is adjusted to give him greater freedom in advanced areas.

Although Baleba has shown strong passing numbers and impressive technical ability, his end product remains limited. Over the past three seasons at Brighton, he has scored just four goals in all competitions and registered two assists.

By comparison, Casemiro contributed 16 goals and six assists in the same period, highlighting a clear difference in attacking output between the two players.

At just 22 years of age, there is still significant room for Carlos Baleba to develop his attacking output, but the current gap remains notable.

However, to counter the idea that Manchester United would be taking a gamble on the Cameroon international, there are several strong indicators in his underlying performance data.

Baleba recorded an 86.6% pass completion rate last season, ranking among the highest in the Brighton squad and highlighting his reliability in possession.

He also made 111 ball recoveries, alongside 231 attempted duels — the seventh-highest total in the squad — underlining his willingness to engage physically and contribute defensively when required.

He also registered 36 clearances, 34 interceptions, and maintained a tackle success rate of 57.5%, further strengthening his overall profile as a well-rounded midfield option for Manchester United.

While there is still clear scope for development in several areas of his game, few environments would be better suited to that progression than Carrington and Old Trafford, where young players are given the platform to refine their skills at the highest level.

Once Brighton come to accept that Baleba may have his sights set on a move away, there will be increasing pressure for all parties to reach an agreement quickly, bringing clarity to a transfer saga that benefits everyone involved.