Brighton intent on keeping Carlos Baleba at the club until summer | OneFootball

Brighton are determined to resist January interest in Carlos Baleba (21), with the club intent on keeping the midfielder until at least the summer unless an extraordinary offer forces a change of stance.

Despite not quite reaching the levels he set last season, the 21-year-old continues to attract attention from the Premier League’s elite. Manchester United have already identified Baleba as a midfield target for next summer, while Manchester City are also monitoring his situation as they assess potential reinforcements, according to reports from Sky Sports.

Any immediate move, however, appears unlikely. Baleba is currently away with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament that runs until mid-January and complicates negotiations during the winter window. More significantly, Brighton have little appetite to weaken their squad mid-season without a clear and carefully planned succession.

The club’s confidence is rooted in a proven model. Yves Bissouma’s departure in 2022 was seamlessly followed by Moisés Caicedo’s rise, while Baleba himself arrived from Lille in August 2023 as Caicedo’s long-term replacement after his move to Chelsea.

That tradition of forward planning remains central to Brighton’s thinking. The club are expected to begin lining up Baleba’s eventual successor as part of their January strategy, alongside possible additions in defence and attack.

GFN | Finn Entwistle