Premier League champions Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on 20-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, with Pep Guardiola a fan.
According to a report by The Sun, Carlos Baleba is the subject of interest from Manchester City. The Premier League champions are scouring the market for a midfielder ahead of the two transfer windows next year. So, the 20-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion midfield powerhouse has emerged as a target for the Citizens, with Pep Guardiola a fan of his talent.
Carlos Baleba and his progress at Brighton & Hove Albion
Carlos Baleba has established himself as one of the best young prospects in the Premier League since joining Brighton & Hove Albion from LOSC Lille in August 2023. The then-teenage took some time to get going but has not looked back since establishing a foothold in the first-team squad at the Amex Stadium.
The 20-year-old is now a mainstay in the middle of the park for Brighton & Hove Albion. Baleba has amassed more than 1,000 minutes of game time across 17 appearances in all competitions thus far this term, chipping in with three goals and two assists.
The young midfield prospect is also growing in stature in his national squad, making four appearances thus far for Cameroon, having made his international bow earlier this year. Meanwhile, Baleba’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several Premier League bigwigs. Manchester City might be one of his prospective suitors next year.
Move across the Premier League on the cards?
Manchester City’s interest in Carlos Baleba is understandable. The Premier League champions are scouring the market for a midfield powerhouse after losing Rodri to a season-ending knee injury early into the 2024/25 season. The Spaniard’s absence has proven telling this term, with Manchester City struggling to keep the opposition at bay.
So, several midfielders, including Ederson, have emerged on Manchester City’s radar, with Baleba also a viable target. The 20-year-old already has 18 months of experience in the Premier League and has gone from strength to strength with every passing week.
With Pep Guardiola an admirer of the Cameroonian midfielder’s talent, he can be a long-term solution in the middle of the park for Manchester City. However, the interest is in its early stages, and it will be interesting to see if Guardiola can coax the Premier League champions to launch the offensive for the Brighton & Hove Albion midfield mainstay next year.
