According to The Sun, Baleba made a beeline for Manchester United substitute Matheus Cunha immediately after the final whistle at Falmer Stadium, where United had won 3-0, and the pair spoke at length by the tunnel. Cunha has a relationship with the Cameroon international stemming from their time as opponents when Cunha was playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Baleba subsequently attracted the attention of United left-back Patrick Dorgu, who was coy when asked directly by journalists whether United should sign the 22-year-old.
The Brighton midfielder also has existing connections at Old Trafford. He is a former Lille team-mate of United defender Leny Yoro, and is close with Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo, who is due to report for pre-season at United next month. Former United and current Trabzonspor loanee Andre Onana had also previously encouraged Baleba to pursue a move to United.
United first made formal contact with Brighton about Baleba in the summer of 2025 and were unable to complete a deal, with Brighton holding firm on a valuation reported to be in excess of £100 million. The interest was significant enough to affect Baleba's early-season form — Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged publicly that the midfielder appeared distracted, and he was substituted at half-time in three of the club's first seven matches.
Brighton are under no pressure to sell. Baleba is contracted at the Amex and the club have consistently stated their intention to keep him. Reports in May suggested United's interest had cooled following a below-par season from Baleba, with the transfer gap between the clubs remaining substantial.
The post-match scenes on the final day suggest the player's own desire to move has not cooled at all.
United have confirmed a deal for Atalanta midfielder Éderson and are focused primarily on signing a second central midfielder this summer. Whether Baleba fits that plan — at Brighton's asking price — remains the outstanding question.