Brighton & Hove Albion kicked off their pre‑season on July 22 with a flurry of testing at the Lancing training ground, and midfielder Carlos Baleba was again linked with a move to Manchester United.

Who joined the testing squad?

New signings Pascal Struijk (£18 m), Zadok Yohanna (£21 m) and João Costinha (£8 m) were among the first to report for duty. Other names spotted included Jack Hinshelwood, Georginio Wijnaldum, Diego Coppola, Matt O'Riley, Danny Welbeck, Olivier Boscagli, Harry Howell, Igor Julio, Amario Cozier‑Duberry and Babis Kostoulas. The group also featured Baleba, who has been a constant presence in Brighton’s midfield this summer.

Why is Baleba still a United target?

The Cameroon international has long attracted interest from the Red Devils. Fabrizio Romano reported that Baleba agreed personal terms with Manchester United a year ago, but no formal offer has materialised. United are aware of his desire to join, yet they have not submitted a bid that meets Brighton’s £100 m‑plus valuation. Manager Roberto De Zero reiterated his intention to keep Baleba, saying the club wants him to help the Seagulls in Europe and the Premier League.

How does the pre‑season schedule look?

Brighton will travel to France for a closed‑door camp, facing Annecy on July 25 and Strasbourg on August 1. Back in England, they host Roma on August 8 and Bologna on August 15. The competitive calendar opens with a Europa Conference League play‑off first leg on August 20, followed by a Premier League debut against Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium on August 23, 2 pm.

What could happen next for Baleba?

Baleba admitted in May that last season was full of "low moments" but insisted he remains committed to Brighton. He hopes a strong pre‑season will silence rumours and earn him more minutes. If United finally come with a package that satisfies Brighton’s asking price, the 22‑year‑old could swap the south coast for Old Trafford before the season starts. Until then, his focus stays on the Seagulls’ upcoming fixtures.