Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has expressed his confidence that Man United target Carlos Baleba will stay at the club this summer.
Baleba, 21, has emerged as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League since joining from Lille in 2023 – and the Cameroon international enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024-25.
His impressive performances have seen him linked with a move away, with United eyeing Baleba as an ideal signing in midfield this summer.
A price tag of £120million has been mooted for the 21-year-old but United have failed to make progress in any potential deal, with Daily Mail Sport reporting this week how reports of an agreement being struck were wide of the mark.
And, speaking ahead of Brighton’s opening day fixture against Fulham on Saturday, Hurzeler provided an update on the situation.
‘Very, very, very confident,’ the German said when asked for his confidence in Baleba still being a Brighton player come the end of the transfer window.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has expressed his confidence Carlos Baleba will stay at the club
Baleba, who is valued at £120million, has been linked with a move to Man United this summer
When questioned further on why he thought that, Hurzeler added: ‘(It’s) just my belief.’
Hurzeler was then asked about how Baleba had reacted this summer amid the transfer speculation.
‘I didn’t see any change,’ he replied. ‘He only changed his hair, 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 team-mates, he’s enjoying being a Brighton player, he’s very grateful to have the process he had in the last season.
‘So I didn’t see any big change and he is an option to start for tomorrow yes.’
The news is likely to come as a blow to United as they look to add to the additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko so far this summer.
Midfield was a problem position for Ruben Amorim last season as United endured their worst-ever Premier League finish but as it stands, the club have failed to strengthen in that area.
Hurzeler’s comments also come after United reportedly received a blow in the chase for Sporting Lisbon star Morten Hjulmand, who was viewed as a backup option to Baleba by the club.
Hurzeler also praised Baleba’s attitude amid the ongoing speculation in regards to his future
His comments come after United received a blow in their pursuit of Morten Hjulmand
Reports in Portugal claimed Hjulmand, once a favourite of Amorim’s during his time in the Portuguese capital was valued at around £50m.
Amorim is a strong admirer of the midfielder and has previously lauded his ‘monster mentality’ and leadership qualities, having appointed him skipper at Sporting.
But it has now been claimed that the 26-year-old Denmark international will be nigh on impossible to acquire this summer thanks to a combination of his expiring release clause and the Portuguese champions’ unwillingness to sell another first team star in the window.
According to Record, the £68m (€80m) release clause in the midfielder’s contract expired on June 15 and Sporting, whose sale of star striker Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal was fraught, have decided to close the door on any further exits.
United kick off their Premier League campaign on Sunday when Amorim’s side take on Arsenal at Old Trafford.
