Brighton manager, Fabian Hurzeler has expressed strong confidence that Carlos Baleba will remain at the Amex Stadium despite mounting transfer interest from Manchester United.
Baleba, 21, has quickly risen to being one of the most important players in the Seagulls’ side. He has been a crucial asset for the past two seasons, and as has happened with other Brighton stars in recent years, he’s being courted by big clubs.
Already this summer Brighton have sold Joao Pedro, who left for Chelsea in a deal worth £60m, which has lessened their need to part with their top talent. The Seagulls have previously been willing to let their star men go, but only once they’ve landed huge profits.
Softfootball understood that the Cameroonian midfielder is open to the move to Old Trafford, but Brighton’s hierarchy sees him as central to their long-term project and is reluctant to disrupt their squad ahead of the new season.
Carlos Baleba has been at the centre of a lot of transfer speculation in the last couple of weeks, but the head coach has no doubt about where the 21-year-old will be playing his football this coming season. Speaking to the media ahead of their showdown with Fulham as seen on Brighton official club website, Hurzeler stated:
“Very, very, very confident that he will not leave. I didn’t see any change in him. He only changed his hair, so I think that was the only change he made in the last two weeks
“But overall, he seems to be in a really good place. He’s enjoying it with his teammates. He’s enjoying being a Brighton player. He’s very grateful to have the progress he made in the last season. So I didn’t see any big change.”
With Hurzeler’s public backing and the club’s high valuation, United face a significant challenge if they hope to lure Baleba away before the transfer window closes.
Brighton’s Premier League campaign kicks off on Saturday, against Fulham, while Man United are not in action until Sunday evening, when they face last season’s second placed side Arsenal.
