Man Utd are interested in signing Carlos Belba this summer but Brighton are reluctant to sell the young midfielder.
Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba
Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler is "very confident" Carlos Baleba will not leave the club this summer.
The Manchester Evening News reported on Friday morning that United are prepared to delay a move for Baleba until next year.
Brighton value Baleba at around £100million, which would make a potential deal tricky to finance, but Ruben Amorim wants to strengthen his midfield before the end of the transfer window.
Toby Collyer is set to join Championship club West Ham on a season-long loan and there are concerns about the suitability of Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro for the deeper midfield roles.
Brighton are confident about keeping Baleba this summer, though, as explained by Hurzeler.
"I am very, very confident," Hurzeler told reporters about Baleba staying at Brighton. "I didn't see any change. He seems to be in a very good place, enjoying it with his team-mates."
Baleba has missed Brighton's last four pre-season friendlies with a knee injury, but Hurzeler confirmed he could start against Fulham this weekend. "He is an option to start tomorrow," he said.
Amorim has been backed with the signings of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Diego Leon this summer, with United spending close to £200m in the transfer window.
Ugarte was signed for €50million (£42.3m), with a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons, which represented a significant outlay, but United are planning to invest in his position again.
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