Could Chelsea spend even more money on their midfield?placeholder image
Could Chelsea spend even more money on their midfield? | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca already has one of the world's best midfields but one pundit has been linked with another Brighton player.
Chelsea have earned plaudits this season for their dominance in midfield through the talents of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia but one pundit believes the London outfit could get even better.
The Blues have a penchant for shopping at Premier League rivals Brighton and could perhaps do that again should they pursue Carlos Baleba. The 21-year-old is said to be unhappy on the south coast, yet to complete 90 minutes in the top flight this season.
talkSPORT claim that Manchester United are the leading candidates to sign the midfielder, having been linked with a transfer during the summer window, but a fresh report this week suggested that the Red Devils had been handed a blow.
Gabriel Agbonlahor urges Chelsea to make another Brighton swoop
The outlet claimed that Brighton have ‘no plans’ to cash in on Baleba. That comes after Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler admitting that speculation of an exit had hampered his form.
Manchester United are the most commonly linked name but Brighton owner Tony Bloom is said to be expecting interest from other Premier League sides. One of those could, perhaps, be Chelsea.
That’s what former Aston Villa striker turned pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor thinks. Speaking on talkSPORT, the 39-year-old speculated: “It will just be interesting what club want to pay the money that Brighton want. They might want 95, 100 million, whatever they want for him. What a player, imagine him at Chelsea, imagine a midfield of Baleba, Caicedo and Fernandez, oh my god.”
Chelsea are already well stocked in the centre of the park but the club is known for its high turnover of players, making future plans somewhat hard to predict. The Blues have shelled out around £280 million on the trio of Caicedo, Fernandez and Lavia.
Baleba said to have ‘more potential’ than Caicedo
Brighton, meanwhile, are known for their ability to scout young talent, develop then and then sell them on for high fees. The Seagulls paid £23 million to sign Baleba from Lille in 2023 and are said to want at least £115 million to sanction any exit.
Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray has even predicted that Baleba could go on to be better than Caicedo. Earlier this year, he said: “The list goes on – my former club at Brighton. There's a number of young players coming through. It is packed with potential and Carlos Baleba, as a DM, I think he’s got even more potential than Yves Bissouma and Moises Caicedo.
"Brighton have had quite a rich vein of defensive midfielders coming through. I think this kid's better than both of those. I think he's absolutely exceptional.”
Read more, Chelsea 'preparing' £87m plus bid for new striker as Tottenham battle Newcastle United for winger.
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