Baleba’s Ambition Shines Amid Transfer Speculation

Carlos Baleba was signed as a replacement for Moises Caicedo after the Ecuador international’s record £115 million transfer to Chelsea in 2023. Since then, Baleba has emerged as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders during his initial two seasons at Brighton.

In his debut season, Baleba made 27 league appearances in the 2023-24 campaign. He built on that foundation in the following season, contributing three goals in 34 matches during the 2024-25 season.

Baleba’s impressive performances attracted significant interest, particularly from Manchester United, who identified him as their primary target to enhance Ruben Amorim’s midfield options for the 2025-26 season. However, negotiations were halted when United was deterred by Brighton’s reported asking price of £100 million.

Following a summer filled with transfer speculation, Baleba has encountered difficulties at Brighton this term, having only completed a full 90 minutes in two matches against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and Leeds United in the league.

Brighton’s head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, acknowledged the potential impact of the transfer rumors on Baleba’s performance. He stated, “When a young boy reads there is interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deeply. It’s part of his development to understand that good performances may lead to such interest. We need to support him in staying focused and humble.”

As he strives to regain the form that garnered United’s attention, Baleba remains ambitious, especially with Cameroon set to face Gabon in their AFCON opener. He has expressed his aspiration to be recognized as the world’s best midfielder, actively studying the playing styles of esteemed players such as Paul Pogba, Thiago Alcantara, Kevin De Bruyne, and Sergio Busquets.

Baleba remarked, “I watch a lot of highlights from these players to learn about their positioning and scanning. My aim is to work hard and take insights from various midfielders, not limited to the Premier League.”

He also draws inspiration from talents outside the Premier League, like Vitinha and Joao Neves from Ligue 1 and legends such as Xavi and Iniesta from LaLiga. “Every day, I am learning by watching them on platforms like YouTube.”

Baleba will be eager to demonstrate his skills when Cameroon competes against Gabon in Agadir, Morocco. The Indomitable Lions also face Ivory Coast and Mozambique in Group F of Africa’s premier tournament, which runs until January 18.

Meanwhile, Brighton’s fixtures include a challenging away match against Premier League leaders Arsenal and a final game of the year against struggling West Ham United.