Brighton’s Carlos Baleba is highly-rated – their strength in depth means they can plan for an exit

By Andy Naylor

It is unusual for an opposing manager to speak with certainty about the prospects of a rival player.

But before Brentfordtravelled to the Amex Stadium to face Brightonpre-Christmas, the Londoners’ head coach Thomas Frank said: “(Carlos) Balebais an excellent midfielder. He will go to one of the bigger clubs in the future, for sure.”

If Frank is right, it is more a case of when than if Baleba becomes the subject of substantial transfer interest.

Brighton are accustomed to this scenario, particularly with their central midfielders. Yves Bissoumawas sold to Tottenhamin the summer of 2022, then Alexis Mac Allisterand Moises Caicedoto Liverpooland Chelsearespectively a year later. Could Baleba be the next in line?

Nothing will happen in the winter window that opened on Wednesday. Brighton are not in the business of losing their best players mid-season, particularly when they are in 10th position under Fabian Hurzeler in a tightly congested top half of the Premier Leaguetable. They are firmly in contention to achieve their aim of qualifying for Europe for the second time in three years.

Arsenallearned all about Brighton’s January intransigence two years ago while making a determined pursuit of Caicedo. They had multiple bids of up to £60million ($74.2m at current exchange rates) for the Ecuadorian rejected. Chelsea tested the water in the same window with an offer of £55m and eventually got their man that summer, but it cost them a British record package of £115m after Caicedo had helped Brighton to qualify for the Europa Leagueunder Hurzeler’s predecessor, Roberto De Zerbi.

Could history repeat itself with the sale of Baleba come the summer? Brighton’s stance will be the same as it was with Bissouma, Mac Allister and Caicedo if the 20-year-old Cameroon international continues to catch the eye. They will not wantto sell but will do so — providing the finances and the circumstances are right for both them and Baleba.

Part of the reason Brighton’s recruitment model works so well is that players know they will get a chance to develop and improve with them. If the player delivers, they also know the club will not block their path if an opportunity comes along to join a bigger club paying much higher wages than Brighton do.

Another aspect of this recruitment model is forward planning.

Caicedo was signed from Independiente del Valle in his homeland for around £4million in the winter window four years ago to eventually succeed Bissouma. Baleba was bought in August 2023 from France’s Lille for £26m to replace Caicedo. And Brighton are already well-stocked in central midfield if he in turn attracts interest this summer.

Baleba has played with three different partners in the past three matches. In Monday’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa, he was reunited with Sweden international Yasin Ayari, after they had been deployed together in December away to Leicester (drew 2-2) and at home against Crystal Palace(lost 3-1).

During Brighton’s current run of seven matches without a win, Baleba has also played alongside two of the nine signings the club made in last summer’s window for a total outlay of almost £200million.

Mats Wiefferscored his first goal for the club in the 1-1 away draw against West Hamjust before Christmas. The Netherlands international, bought from Eredivisie side Feyenoord for £25million, went off shortly afterwards with a leg injury. Wieffer was replaced six days later in the goalless draw with Brentford by another £25m purchase from that same window — English-born Denmark international Matt O’Riley, who arrived from Scottish champions Celtic.

Baleba has been an ever-present since missing the 1-1 home draw against Southamptonat the end of November which launched the winless sequence. He was suspended for that match following a controversial red card in the preceding 2-1 win at Bournemouthfor what were deemed two bookable offences.

In total, Brighton have used eight different central midfield partnerships this season, also involving Jack Hinshelwood, James Milnerand Billy Gilmour, before the latter’s move to Napoliof Italy late in the summer transfer window. EnglandUnder-21 Hinshelwood is expected back from a knee injury soon having missed the past eight games. Milner, who turns 39 this weekend, hasn’t played since the 1-1 away draw against Arsenal in August because of a hamstring problem.

Diego Gomezhas been added to the midfield mix following an £11million move this week from MLSclub Inter Miami.

The 21-year-old, a box-to-box Paraguay international, officially became a Brighton player on January 1 with the opening of the winter window but will not be involved against Arsenal at the Amex tomorrow. He is likely to make his debut instead in the third round of the FA Cup, away to Championship side Norwich, next Saturday.

Hurzeler, speaking about Gomez during his press conference on Thursday, said: “When I saw him running — he was running during our training sessions — I saw a beast. (It) is unbelievable how intense he can play football, and he proved it in the MLS.

“Of course, it is a different league, different profile. But in the end, it is exactly that what we want to have — physicality. We needed this physicality. When you look back at the game against Villa, they are one of the most physical teams in the league and we have to be able to go against them; to win our personal duels, also with physicality. I think it is a main point.

“That is why we are really happy that he brings us this attitude, this physicality, and I am sure he will also improve as a player. So, I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Baleba also brings physicality and mobility to Brighton’s midfield, as well as a goal threat (three in his 18 appearances this season across all competitions). Having only turned 20 today, he is still naive in his defensive positioning at times and prone to lapses of concentration, but Hurzeler sees the scale of his potential.

“This is the first season he has played regularly,” Hurzeler also said on Thursday. “It is a big change for a young player to be playing most of the time. That is a big development in his profile. He tries to adapt and he tries to improve. At some moments he is still not really alive, he switches off, and then we have to help him. But generally, he has had a big impact so far.

“He brings a physicality and a good balance between the defence and controlling the game in possession. He can score goals, he can defend goals. He has a bright future if he stays grounded and humble with this work ethic.”

Malick Yalcouye, signed last summer from IFK Gothenburg in Sweden for an initial £7.6million plus add-ons, is another midfield prospect who will come into the reckoning in 2025-26. Brighton considered triggering a January recall option in the versatile 19-year-old’s season-long loan with Sturm Graz before deciding to leave him with the Austrian Champions League participants for the remainder of the campaign.

If Brighton achieve their goal of qualifying for Europe, squad depth becomes more important and rotation more manageable — but a summer departure for Baleba cannot be discounted.