Chelsea and Manchester City must wait until the summer to sign 21-year-old Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba from fellow Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
According to a report by Give Me Sport, Carlos Baleba remains a target for several high-profile Premier League clubs. Chelsea and Manchester City are keen on signing the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder. However, a deal will unlikely see the light of day until the summer transfer window.
The rising stock of Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since joining Brighton & Hove Albion from LOSC Lille in August 2023. The youngster did not take long to make his mark at the Amex Stadium, and he has gone from strength to strength in the last 18 months.
The 21-year-old has turned out over 50 times thus far for Brighton & Hove Albion while chipping in with three goals and two assists. Meanwhile, the African midfielder’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe.
Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing the Cameroonian international, with Chelsea and Manchester City among his prospective suitors. However, the two high-profile English outfits must wait until the summer transfer window to land the young midfielder’s signature.
Premier League clubs keen on Baleba
Chelsea’s interest in Carlos Baleba is understandable. While the Blues have a stacked midfield unit, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall face an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge. So, Chelsea can do with a new midfielder, with the Brighton & Hove Albion mainstay emerging as a viable target.
As for Manchester City, Rodri’s absence has adversely affected the Citizens, with their defensive shortcomings ruling them out of the Premier League title race. So, Baleba is an option worth considering for Manchester City. However, a deal will unlikely see the light of day until the summer transfer window.
Chelsea and Manchester City have stopped short of pursuing the 21-year-old Cameroonian international in the winter transfer window. So, it will be interesting to see if a summer deal sees the light of day, with the two Premier League bigwigs yet to rule out a move.
