24 Jul 2026 13:32:35
Read last week, and it’s very difficult to know what to believe and what not to at this time of the year, so usually best to talk all stories, reports, whatever, with a pinch of salt. But one that has interested me was one story that United wanted Baleba’s agents and Baleba himself to push or agitate for a move to United before the club would explore and then take this forward.
I guess this is to give the club a better start position in negotiations. Well, it appears today that this is/has happening/happened, with stories coming out the agents have contacted United and Baleba saying a move to United last summer was a dream. As I say, take with a pinch of salt, but potentially one to watch.
24 Jul 2026 14:15:14
Ports - It sounds like he is desperate to come to United, but Brighton are no mugs when it comes to transfer fees. They will command top dollar, and I don't think that United will pay their valuation. They allegedly want north of 80 million for him.
24 Jul 2026 15:27:51
It's quite possibly one of those transfers that can wait a while. We do now have 2 new midfielders. Mount acquitted himself reasonably well last year, and with Mainoo and Bruno, there's the core of a solid squad, albeit yet to prove itself. So there's no desperation at play for the time being.
I think Tielemans will be used in the creative role should we be deprived of Bruno through injury. And it will be interesting to see how they mesh together. I think he may be even more effective than Bruno at finding those incisive forward passes for forwards to run on to, which may suit Mbeumo more. About 1/2 of Bruno's assists last year were from set pieces, many of which went to Casemiro.
That's probably not reproducible, so goals are going to have to come from other sources.
The question then is, do Brighton want to hold on to a player by holding out for a sum no one will give them after last season's dip in form, and then have him underperform again, further reducing his value, or cash in for a decent price and profit. A deal really ought to be doable at £75m or less... That is, assuming United are even interested. Somehow those players we failed to get during our initial phase of interest, and then finally get acquired, don't turn out too well. Hargreaves? Sancho? As indeed do those players who supposedly wanted to go to City but we scuppered the deal.
24 Jul 2026 15:53:08
Mount acquitted himself reasonably well last year - you must have been watching a different Mount. He had two or three half decent games.
54 games in 3 seasons.
He's been an absolute waste of money at 55 million pounds.
He's basically cost us a million pounds a game so far.
We won't be able to give him away due to his injury record.
24 Jul 2026 16:41:15
I watched pretty much every game last year. When Mount started, or mostly came on, we played better. The link up with the forwards and Bruno was better.
24 Jul 2026 16:57:11
From an ability perspective, I think Mount gets some unfair criticism. From an availability perspective, it's definitely been a frustrating transfer.
24 Jul 2026 21:28:09
Mount is a fine player and would be a huge asset to us if he was able to stay fit, but he can't, unfortunately. Great engine, gets around, very clever, has a good eye for an assist and a goal, but rarely starts or is able to stay fit.
I feel very sorry for him that it just hasn't happened here. I would love to see him stay fit.
24 Jul 2026 22:08:18
Madrid have come in for Rodri, which, if it happens, means Tchoumeni could be back on.