Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler has revealed he has been in direct contact with Carlos Baleba during the midfielder’s involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations, as speculation continues to link the Cameroon international with a move to Manchester United.
The Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder has enjoyed a strong start to AFCON, playing a key role as Cameroon collected four points from their opening two group matches.
Baleba completed the full 90 minutes in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with defending champions Ivory Coast, following a 1-0 win over Gabon in which he was substituted at half-time as a precaution.
Minor injury managed carefully
The 22-year-old suffered a minor thigh strain late in the first half against Gabon, prompting Cameroon’s medical staff to take no risks. Baleba returned to training the following day and showed no ill effects when starting against Ivory Coast, despite receiving an early booking inside 15 minutes.
His composure and physical presence stood out, with Baleba operating effectively as a ball-winner and regularly dropping deep to support build-up play from defence.
Speaking about Baleba’s AFCON performances, Fabian Hürzeler confirmed he had checked in with the player.
“I think he had a good start,” Hürzeler said. “Unfortunately he had to be subbed after 45 minutes. I had a talk with him afterwards. “He had a small issue with a muscle but, when I saw the game, I was quite happy.”
Transfer speculation resurfaces
Baleba’s displays have come amid renewed transfer speculation ahead of the January window. The midfielder remains on the radar of Manchester United, who have tracked his development closely since his move to the Premier League.
He has also previously been linked with Manchester City and Bayern Munich, although reports now suggest the German champions are no longer pursuing a deal.
Baleba, who turns 23 on Saturday, is considered a long-term project by Brighton, and there is no indication the club are actively looking to sell mid-season.
AFCON focus continues
Cameroon face Mozambique on New Year’s Eve in their final group-stage fixture, before turning their attention to the knockout rounds. AFCON runs until 18 January, meaning Baleba will remain unavailable to Brighton until at least the latter stages of the competition.
Key insights
- Baleba has impressed in both AFCON group matches
- A minor thigh issue was managed as a precaution
- Fabian Hürzeler remains in close contact with the midfielder
- Manchester United interest persists ahead of January
What’s next?
Brighton will continue to monitor Baleba’s workload during AFCON, with his fitness a priority ahead of his eventual return to the Premier League. Meanwhile, any transfer developments are likely to remain in the background until the tournament concludes.
Should Brighton resist all January interest in Baleba, or is this the right moment to cash in?
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