Manchester United must sell Garnacho if they buy Baleba, two reasons revealed! A final transfer ultimatum issued to Antony

Florian Plettenberg from Sky Germany reported that Manchester United is still in talks with Carlos Baleba's agent about potential transfer fees, although Brighton has consistently insisted they do not plan to sell him this summer.

However, as long as the price is sufficient, such as a record-breaking fee of £120 million, Brighton is thought to be open to selling. The team's coach, Fabian Hulzeler, insists he is not worried about losing their best players during the transfer window.

He stated, "As a club, we always find solutions, and I believe we will do so in the future. This is part of our operational model, and we must accept it. We have proven that we are not just sellers; we also retain some players, like Mitoma, rather than selling every player at once. Of course, some star players have left, but new players have also joined. We can still unite and create chemistry to compete with the big teams."

According to "Competitiveness Network," several of Baleba's former club teammates or national team compatriots are helping persuade him to join the club. This includes Andre Onana and Mbemo from the Cameroon team, as well as Lenny Yoro, who played for Lille, where Baleba joined Brighton two years ago.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano disclosed, "Manchester United has contacted Baleba's agent again today, and I expect they will reach out to Brighton directly this week to see if a deal is possible. Manchester United has not taken action on other targets at the moment."

Other midfielders that Manchester United had contacted during the summer transfer window have already secured their destinations for the new season. For example, Ndidi from Leicester City has joined Turkish club Besiktas for €8 million, and Javier Gracia from Valencia has officially extended his contract until 2029.

However, Baleba is very expensive, and Manchester United is aware that they must offer a high price to acquire him this summer. If they confirm the signing, the club will have to sell some players to reduce the net transfer expenditure. Currently, Manchester United has spent over £200 million acquiring Sesko, Mbemo, and Cunha, while transfer income only amounts to about £20 million from the secondary transfer fees of former players Elanga, Alvaro Fernandez Carreras, and Maxi Oyedela.

Garnacho is a player that Manchester United can sell for a high price, and as a youth academy player, he will bring pure profit. Manchester United wants a transfer fee of £50 million, but Chelsea, the only club willing to sign the 21-year-old Argentine winger, only wants to offer £30 million. If both parties reach a compromise on the transfer fee, Manchester United will not only gain transfer funds but also provide Baleba with his preferred jersey number.

Many Manchester United fans believe that if Baleba joins, he will choose the number 20 shirt, which he wore during his past two seasons at Brighton. Diogo Dalot, who wore the number 20 shirt for many years, has switched to the traditional right-back number 2 for next season. However, Baleba's favorite number is 17; the 21-year-old Cameroon midfielder has already changed to number 17 this season with the "Seagulls," and he has always chosen the number 17 jersey for the Cameroon national team.

In addition to selling Garnacho, Manchester United also hopes to resolve Antony's future matters quickly. Spanish media reports that the club has issued a final ultimatum to Antony, demanding he leave immediately and not wait until the last moments of the summer window.

Antony hopes to return to La Liga's Real Betis, but the latter wants to loan him again and hopes the player will cooperate by waiting for a last-minute loan opportunity. However, Manchester United has now informed Antony that he must accept a permanent transfer offer this week; otherwise, he will be retained and will sit in the stands until the January transfer window opens next year.

During the summer window, Antony received multiple offers from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the Portuguese Super League, but he did not accept any of them. Regarding the new rumors, Manchester United has declined to comment officially. However, it is a fact that the club hopes to sell him, which does not need confirmation.