Manchester United could strengthen in two more positions once Carlos Baleba has joined from Brighton & Hove Albion, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Red Devils are closing in on the signature of the Cameroon international as they look to give their midfield a complete refresh for the new term.

A priority position for the club in the transfer market, Andrey Santos was the first to join from Chelsea before Michael Carrick’s side struck a deal with Aston Villa for Youri Tielemans.

Baleba will help elevate United’s midfield to another level after catching the eye with a number of big performances for Brighton ever since his move from Lille in 2023.

United have been active in the transfer market this summer and it appears that the arrival of Baleba will not be their last deal before the window closes for business on September 1.

Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, the transfer expert spoke about the possibility of a new left-back and attacker signing on the dotted line at Old Trafford.

“And then I think United will also get a left back before the end of the window,” said Romano. “They are exploring options. I don’t think it’s going to be Lewis Hall because at the moment Newcastle are not opening the doors, so it’s not easy at all unless there is a big change before the deadline. It’s a very complicated one.

Lewis Hall alternative

via Reuters

With Hall now set to remain at Newcastle United, the Red Devils will have to explore alternative options when it comes to a new left-back as they plan for the future.

Jorge Salinas of Racing Santander has been linked with a move to Old Trafford following his performances that saw the Spanish club promoted to LaLiga.

The 19-year-old, who has been linked with a transfer to Barcelona, registered seven assists in 34 games in all competitions last term and it does appear that he will move on at some point in the future if he continues to excel.

While Racing want to keep him for the years ahead, sporting director Chema Aragon knows they will be powerless if a footballing “giant” makes their move.

“There’s little you can do if a giant appears,” Aragan said. “We value the assets we have, we consider them important. For the club, at this time, there is no other option than to try to strengthen the team and not weaken it by losing stars. The reality is that the club that wants him has to come along with an offer.”

The cost of owning a piece of American sport has skyrocketed in the past few years; a decade ago, $2 billion for a franchise was a major headline, now it might only secure a small percentage.

Every single entry on this list has landed since 2022, and four of them in 2026 alone. The driving reason behind it is simple: media rights money, legalised gambling, private equity money entering the leagues, and a fixed supply of assets.

The Los Angeles Lakers now occupies the top two positions after being sold twice in 14 months as the country’s biggest franchise names continue to show considerable growth over recent years. Interestingly, a large proportion of this list was bought and sold for incredible returns — displaying North American sport’s expansion from a financial perspective.

With that in mind, here are the 11 biggest sales in North American sports history, in reverse order.

11

Charlotte Hornets

$3 billion (2023)

The end of Michael Jordan‘s 13 years as an NBA owner. A group fronted by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall took majority control in July 2023 in a deal valuing the Charlotte Hornets at $3 billion. Jordan had paid $275 million for the franchise — then the Bobcats — in March 2010, turning a return of nearly 11x on a team that reached the playoffs twice under his watch.

10

Dallas Mavericks

$3.5 billion (2023)

Mark Cuban sold a majority stake to Miriam Adelson and her family in December 2023 at a $3.5 billion valuation, having bought the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million in 2000. Cuban retained a minority holding and basketball operations influence, but the relationship soured quickly.

9

San Diego Padres

$3.9 billion (2026)

Reuters

This was an MLB record, and a huge one — the previous high was $2.4 billion. José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones agreed in May 2026 to buy the San Diego Padres from the ownership group that took over in 2012 for $800 million. The deal required approval from 22 of 29 owners and cleared its final vote in August. Feliciano and Jones inherit an expensive, aging roster and a payroll problem.

8

Phoenix Suns & Mercury

$4 billion (2023)

Mortgage lending billionaire Mat Ishbia and his brother Justin bought majority control of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Mercury in February 2023 at a $4 billion valuation. The sale was effectively forced: Robert Sarver had been suspended for a year following the NBA’s investigation into workplace culture. Sarver paid $401 million for both teams in 2004 — a tenfold return in under two decades.

7

Portland Trail Blazers

$4.25 billion (2026)

Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon completed his move into the NBA in March 2026, buying the Portland Trail Blazers from Paul Allen’s estate at $4.25 billion. Allen had paid $70 million in 1988. Dundon’s tenure has been abrasive from the start — he cut the team’s long-serving broadcast staff in July 2026 as part of wider cost-cutting, and found himself in a public fight with Portland’s city council over arena funding.

6

Denver Broncos

$4.65 billion (2022)

© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The deal that reset the NFL market. The Walton-Penner group, fronted by Walmart heir Rob Walton, bought the Denver Broncos in August 2022 for $4.65 billion from the trust that had run the club since 2014. Pat Bowlen bought Denver from Edgar Kaiser for $78 million in 1984 and relinquished control in 2014 as Alzheimer’s advanced. He died in 2019, four years before the sale completed.

5

Washington Commanders

$6.05 billion (2023)

Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Josh Harris, already owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, led the group that paid $6.05 billion in May 2023 to remove Daniel Snyder from the NFL. Snyder had bought the club for $800 million in 1999 from the estate of Jack Kent Cooke, and left amid congressional scrutiny and multiple workplace investigations. The sale was as much an exorcism as a transaction.

4

Boston Celtics

$6.1 billion (2025)

For roughly two months in spring 2025, this was the biggest sale in North American sports history. Bill Chisholm, managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, bought the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family, who had paid $360 million in 2002 and delivered two championships. The scale of the shift since is captured in one number: the Lakers deal announced in 2026 was, shockingly, more than double it.

3

Seattle Seahawks

$9.612 billion (2026)

An NFL record, struck in July 2026 with the Seattle Seahawks fresh off a Super Bowl win. The Paul Allen estate sold to a group led by the Khosla family, previously minority holders in the San Francisco 49ers — a stake they must now divest. Allen bought the Seahawks for around $200 million in 1997, partly to block a prospective buyer’s plan to relocate the team to Anaheim.

2

Los Angeles Lakers

$10 billion (2025)

This was the sale that ended one of sport’s great dynasties. Mark Walter bought the Los Angeles Lakers from the Buss family in June 2025 at a $10 billion valuation, breaking the Celtics record set weeks earlier. Jerry Buss had bought the club from Jack Kent Cooke for around $68 million in 1979 and built it into the Showtime era; the family ran it alone until Walter arrived, retaining 15% and Jeanie Buss as governor.