Manchester United have made an opening £60m plus £5m in add-ons bid for Brighton's Carlos Baleba, a fee that falls short of the club's valuation but which United believe is enough to land the 22-year-old midfielder, who has already agreed personal terms. The move would mark United's third midfield signing of the summer, strengthening a squad ahead of a season in which the club is also still pursuing reinforcements elsewhere on the pitch.

Baleba, a Cameroon international, was a United target last summer when Brighton valued him at around £100m, but his price has fallen following inconsistent form last season, and he is currently carrying an ankle injury. He would join Youri Tielemans (£35m from Aston Villa) and Andrey Santos (£48m from Chelsea) in United's revamped midfield, with the Brighton man's preferred holding role setting up competition with Santos for a starting spot. United, who open their Premier League campaign at Hull on Saturday, are also still seeking a left-back, with Newcastle's Lewis Hall and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly among the candidates being considered.