Brighton Sets €120M Price for Midfielder Baleba Amid Man Utd Interest

Brighton & Hove Albion have set a high asking price of €120 million (£104 million, $139.4 million) for midfielder Carlos Baleba, who has attracted interest from Premier League clubs Manchester United and Manchester City. Despite United's known need to strengthen their midfield and their pursuit of Benjamin Šeško, they have not yet made direct contact with Brighton, and Baleba is reportedly content to remain at Brighton for the upcoming season before considering a transfer next summer. Brighton's chief executive Paul Barber dismissed recent transfer rumors as speculation, emphasizing the club's intention to retain their best players while maintaining a competitive squad. Baleba, who moved to Brighton from Lille for around £23 million in 2023, has made 77 appearances across all competitions, showing significant promise to become a key player under head coach Fabian Hürzeler. Lille stands to receive 20% of any transfer fee exceeding Brighton's purchase price, adding complexity to any potential deal. Baleba would join a growing list of Brighton talents, such as Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, who have commanded substantial fees moving to other Premier League clubs.