Manchester United have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion over a deal for midfielder Carlos Baleba worth up to £70 million (€82m). According to BBC Sport, negotiations have reached a breakthrough, paving the way for the 22-year-old Cameroon international to undergo a medical as early as this weekend.

Manchester United stepped up their interest in Baleba this week as manager Ruben Amorim looks to further strengthen his midfield options. The potential arrival would follow the signings of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.

The agreement is understood to include an initial £65m payment, with a further £5m available in performance-related bonuses. Brighton have also negotiated a sell-on clause, giving the club the opportunity to benefit from any future transfer involving Baleba.

If the deal is completed as expected, Manchester United's spending during the summer transfer window will rise to around £153m. The move would represent another significant investment as the Red Devils look to build a squad capable of competing at the top end of the Premier League.