Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle is a keen “admirer” of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to the Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope.
The journalist, who is a trusted source when it comes to the Magpies, claims that the Cameroon international has been added to the “list of transfer targets.”
Baleba has been linked on and off with a transfer to Manchester United over the past twelve months, but the Red Devils have never made an official bid for the player.
Brighton’s asking price is said to have put them off from making an offer, and they have subsequently signed Chelsea’s Andrey Santos and Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans instead.
Newcastle United want midfield reinforcements
Having sold both captain Bruno Guimaraes (to Arsenal) and Sandro Tonali (to Tottenham), sporting director Ross Wilson has been searching for further additions in the middle of the park.
A move for Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was in the works, but the deal collapsed after the Dane had a change of heart about making the switch to St James’ Park.
However, Hope suggests the club are still on the lookout for “replacements” who could fill the void left by Guimaraes and Tonali, with Baleba among the options.
A bid for Baleba is not imminent
One complication in making a move for the Brighton star is his current fitness status. He is on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage, which he sustained during a friendly game against Strasbourg at the start of this month.
There are fears that Baleba may miss the start of the season, but there is still optimism that it isn’t a long-term injury. Newcastle could yet decide to make an offer if he does return to action before the transfer window closes.