(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media/Imago)

Jonathan Burnett

Mon 11 August 2025 16:11, UK

Brighton and Hove Albion could end an almost flawless off-season period without one of Fabian Hurzeler’s key players.

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Baleba is the latest midfield gem unearthed by Brighton’s leading scouting department after his arrival from Lille in 2023, and the Cameroonian has filled the hole left by Moises Caicedo’s move to Chelsea.

The 21-year-old’s £23million move to the Amex Stadium could be made to look like another bargain for Brighton as Manchester United plot a move to sign Baleba this summer, with a massive fee in the offing.

Former United scout Mick Brown told Football Insider back in April that Brighton would place a £100m price tag on Baleba and Joao Pedro’s heads, and the midfielder’s fee could rise even higher than that.

Hurzeler will look to build on a solid first season at Brighton (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

The Seagulls have spent big in the last two summers and broke their transfer record 12 months ago to sign Georginio Rutter from Leeds, but Brighton’s player trading remains focused on maximising value.

That’s exactly what they’ll be aiming to do if Man United persist with their interest in Baleba before the end of August, but Ruben Amorim will try to bring down that fee with Toby Collyer used as a makeweight.

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Brighton‘s pre-season results have been impressive to say the least, recording seven victories from eight and their only draw coming against Southampton before back-to-back wins over Wolfsburg on 9 August.

Rutter netted the opener in Brighton’s final match as the Bundesliga side were dispatched 2-1 at the Amex Stadium, and posted on Instagram (10 August) with a message to fans as the season approaches.

Baleba was one of several Seagulls players to like Rutter’s post, which said: “PS [Pre-season] DONE”.

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Football Insider Verdict

Chelsea have been Brighton’s best customers in recent seasons and their £115m signing of Caicedo directly led to Baleba’s arrival in 2023, who could command a similar fee from Man United this summer.

Amorim‘s side have spent big themselves to bring in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and most recently Benjamin Sesko for £190m combined, and it remains to be seen if they’ll have the money to buy Baleba.

Man United are already exploring alternative options to Baleba as progress stalls on a deal to bring the Cameroon international to Old Trafford, but expect their interest to remain a constant as his stock grows with every passing game.

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