Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for two clubs in the Premier League.
Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, the Seagulls have been impressed under new head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
Just two defeats have been posted in 10 top-flight fixtures to sit in eighth position in the Premier League table.
Among the players to step up under the former St Pauli boss is Baleba, who did not necessarily impress in his first campaign in English football.
During 2024-25, however, the 20-year-old has made a total of seven starts and one substitute outing in the Premier League, showcasing the qualities that encouraged Brighton to sign him as a replacement for Moises Caicedo.
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Which clubs are ready to battle for Baleba signature?
While Brighton will be of the opinion that they want to retain the Cameroon international's signature in the long term, the assumption is that significant offers will be considered.
The club's business model dictates that players will be sold for a profit should it be deemed too attractive to turn down, and Baleba falls into the bracket of a prospect that could be targeted by bigger clubs.
As per transfer expert Ekrem Konur, who was commenting on X, both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring the situation.
These two North London clubs are no strangers to doing business with their Brighton counterparts, Arsenal having signed Leandro Trossard and Spurs having acquired the signature of Yves Bissouma last season.
Nevertheless, it is unclear to what extent they will be prepared to negotiate with Brighton for a player who cost an alleged £23.2m when he arrived from Lille.
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Who needs Baleba the most?
There is a strong argument that Baleba would benefit most by staying put at the Amex Stadium unless he is guaranteed regular action.
Arsenal are already well-stocked for options with Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard the likely chosen three in the engine room when all are fit.
That said, Mikel Arteta and the club's board must establish whether they are able to extend Thomas Partey's contract past the end of the season.
From the perspective of Spurs, they, too, have an array of talent for their central-midfield area with youngsters Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall tipped to eventually become mainstays in the starting lineup.
Darren Plant
