Alious Hurzeler admits Baleba struggling to cope after £115m transfer saga
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has acknowledged that midfielder Carlos Baleba is finding it difficult to rediscover his best form following a turbulent summer of transfer speculation.
The 21-year-old was strongly linked with a big-money move to Manchester United, but Brighton’s hefty £115m valuation meant no deal was struck. Since then, the highly-rated Cameroonian, who was among the Seagulls’ standout performers last season, has looked short of confidence and rhythm.
Baleba’s dip in standards has already led to him being dropped against Bournemouth, while a week later he was hauled off at half-time during the defeat to Tottenham after another subdued display.
Hurzeler admitted that media chatter around such a sizeable price tag and United’s interest has weighed on the youngster:
> “When a young player reads about a massive offer from a huge club, of course it can get into his head. That’s part of growing – learning to stay grounded, humble, and focused here at Brighton.”
The German coach stressed that Baleba is “not a machine” and that his development requires patience, empathy, and support as he adapts to the pressures of top-flight football.
Brighton, who signed Baleba from Lille in 2023, still see him as a future asset that could yield a significant profit, as they previously managed with the likes of Moisés Caicedo. But in the short term, Hurzeler admits the strategy of holding firm on his price may be backfiring, with Baleba struggling to replicate the energy and consistency he showed last term when he topped the club’s charts for tackles and interceptions.
With three years remaining on his contract, sources suggest Brighton may be prepared to cash in if the right offer arrives next summer. For now, however, Hurzeler insists the focus must be on protecting his young star and helping him rediscover the form that made him such a vital cog in their midfield engine.
Alious
