Manchester United have called off their pursuit of midfielder Carlos Baleba as things stand with Brighton remaining resolute in their stance the player is not leaving the club.
No formal bid was made for the 21-year-old but United made inquiries around the potential cost of signing him and whether Brighton would let him leave.
Sources have always stressed Brighton do not want to sell and on Friday head coach Fabian Hurzeler said he was “very, very, very confident” the Cameroon international would stay at the club.
United have now accepted the cost of getting Brighton to change their stance would be too expensive and have backed away for now, with sources stressing that situation will not change before the transfer window closes on 1 September.
Ruben Amorim’s side host Arsenal in their first match of the season at Old Trafford on Sunday and also face Chelsea and Manchester City in a tough set of opening fixtures.
United are now assessing their midfield situation, with Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand, a player Amorim knows well, likely to be available.
Hjulmand is a 26-year-old defensive midfielder and Danish international.
Having already spent in excess of £200m on three senior players this summer and, as yet, no sales, it is not out of the question United will opt against bringing anyone else in.
Baleba joined Brighton two years ago from Lille for £23.2m and has three years left on his contract.
He scored three goals in 34 Premier League appearances last season as Brighton finished eighth.
“Very, very, very confident [he will stay],” Hurzeler told a news conference on Friday as he previewed Brighton’s opener at home to Fulham on Saturday.
“It’s just my belief.
“I didn’t see any change in him. He only changed his hair, that was the only change he made in the last two weeks!
“But overall, he seems to be in a really good place. He’s enjoying it with his team-mates. He’s enjoying being a Brighton player.
“He’s very grateful to have the progress he made in the last season. I didn’t see any big change. He is an option to start for tomorrow.”
