Brighton & Hove Albion have been on the lookout for a potential replacement for Moises Caicedo after selling him to Chelsea, and it appears that they have found one, with Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna reporting that they have agreed a deal to sign Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Brighton Agree Move for Carlos Baleba
Who is Carlos Baleba?
The Cameroonian midfielder joined Lille’s youth academy last year but took very little time to get fast-tracked to their senior team after impressing for the reserves side. The teenager made 25 appearances for the French side last season, producing two assists in that time.
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The 19-year-old is naturally a defensive midfielder who can also play in a number eight role as well as an attacking midfielder if necessary. He has been described as a “Beast in the Making” thanks to his energetic performances for the Ligue 1 side, helping them finish in fifth place in the league last season.
WhoScored categorises the Cameroon midfielder’s biggest strengths as his ability to win aerial duels and block shooting attempts. He also boasts an impressive passing ability, which is a key aspect of how the Seagulls operate under Roberto de Zerbi.
How Much are Brighton Paying for Carlos Baleba?
Aouna has confirmed that Brighton have struck an agreement with Lille for the signing of Baleba, and are going to have to pay a fee of around £25.6 million, which includes add-ons. It is further claimed that the 19-year-old has been given permission to fly into the UK and have his medical this week as both clubs aim to get the deal done before the transfer window closes.
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The Seagulls sold Caicedo for a whopping British transfer record fee of £115 million, so they probably won’t mind the amount being paid for the young midfielder, who should act as the Ecuadorian’s replacement. Baleba will have a major task ahead of him to properly adapt to the Premier League and to De Zerbi’s system at Brighton, who have started the season superbly by winning both their opening games and sitting on top of the league table.
Image Credit: Gareth Byrd on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
