Man Utd transfer wishlist emerges as club target four players ahead of Premier League return

Manchester United have compiled a transfer shortlist of three further players to target alongside Carlos Baleba, it has been reported.

United opened talks with Brighton midfielder Baleba's agents earlier this week and are reportedly preparing a bid for the Cameroon international midfielder.

The Seagulls do not want to sell and it is unclear whether United are willing to match the asking price, believed to be around £120 million, that Fabian Hurzeler's side have set.

Brighton can use Moises Caicedo's £115 million sale to Chelsea in 2023 as a precedent.

According to The Independent, United boss Ruben Amorim is 'pushing' the club's hierarchy to sign Baleba as his primary target before the transfer window closes on September 1.

In addition, it is claimed that the club are preparing a payment plan to launch a bid - but have also identified three other potential targets.

Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Atalanta's Ederson and Sporting's Morten Hjulmand have been named as the three players on United's shortlist.

Wharton would undoubtedly be the most difficult signing to achieve, given that Palace qualified for European football this season and he is valued at around £100 million himself.

The Eagles could lose his England international team-mate and club captain Marc Guehi, with Liverpool in talks to sign the centre-back.

According to Sky Sports, Guehi is happy to stay at Palace this summer but will talk to Liverpool if an offer is accepted, with his contract due to expire next summer to leave him as a free agent in any case.

There have also been rumours surrounding the future of Eagles midfielder Eberechi Eze, who is of interest to both Arsenal and Spurs.

Ederson, meanwhile, has been linked to United for several windows and is a key player for Atalanta in Serie A.

The 26-year-old joined Atalanta in 2022 and made his international debut for Brazil last season.

Hjulmand, meanwhile, worked under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, though The Independent claim there are concerns about whether he possesses the required physicality to play in the Premier League.