Manchester United are edging closer to landing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, as the club looks to bolster its engine room ahead of the upcoming campaign.

The Red Devils had previously tried to land the Cameroonian last year, but the move stalled after Brighton demanded a fee north of £100 million.

That asking price has since dropped considerably, prompting United to renew their interest following an unsuccessful pursuit of Matheus Fernandes.

According to BBC Sport, United have tabled an opening bid of £60 million, though talks are ongoing as the offer still falls short of Brighton’s expectations.

This summer has already seen United bring in Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa to reinforce their midfield options.

While Santos and Mason Mount linked up well in pre-season, Mount has since picked up a foot injury sustained during a friendly against PSG.

Baleba himself is also on the sidelines, nursing an ankle knock from training camp and expected to miss a couple of weeks.

Despite a dip in form and playing time last season compared to the year before, Baleba remains a player United rate highly, believing he offers the box-to-box presence their midfield currently lacks. Reports suggest he too is open to making the switch.

With the transfer window edging toward its close, United manager Michael Carrick will be hoping his side can strike a deal and get the best version of Baleba back on the pitch.