At a glance
- Carlos Baleba has returned to form at a crucial stage for Brighton
- The Brighton midfielder impressed against Chelsea and Newcastle
- His resurgence suggests Fabian Hurzeler may have solved a major midfield issue
Carlos Baleba’s Brighton season has not followed the path many expected after his outstanding 2024/25 campaign.
The midfielder was one of Albion’s most dominant players last season, but his form dipped sharply this season.
However, Baleba’s recent performances have marked a fresh phase for the Cameroonian international. These games showed glimpses of the best version of the player.
Pascal Gross Has Been a Game-Changer
Pascal Gross offers Baleba the freedom that the 22-year-old needs. The German midfielder offers control in the centre as he changes the tempo of the game as required.
With Gross by his side, Hurzeler is using Baleba’s strengths and pushing other responsibilities on his partner.
Instead of fixing the player, the German gaffer improved the conditions around him so that he can work at his best for the club.
Recent Displays Show Baleba’s Influence
Baleba managed to garner the most xA (0.33) of any player against Chelsea. He also had a dribbling success rate of 67%, as the 22-year-old managed to dribble past two out of three players.
Baleba also created one chance and made four passes into the final third. All in all, the midfielder carried the ball well while making transitional passes at the Amex last month.
Despite the loss against Newcastle United, Baleba was still active with four passes into the final third. The midfielder also played five accurate long balls while making the most tackles (3).
READ MORE: How Fabian Hurzeler’s Tactical Shift Sparked Brighton’s European Push
Baleba Might See a Big Money Move in The Summer
Despite his resurgence, Baleba’s time with Brighton might be short-lived. Manchester United remain interested in the midfielder as Casemiro is set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The fee could reach well beyond £50m if the Cameroon international only takes bigger steps from here on out.
His deal with the Albion runs till June 2028 as the club bought him in the range of £23m–£25m. Nevertheless, with two more years on his contract, Hurzeler’s side is in no hurry to sell.
There is no publicly available release clause, but Lille has a sell-on profit to collect if Brighton goes that way.
The French side will keep 15% of future sales, and Brighton will be wary of that before making a decision. Hence, if Baleba wants to leave, he can only do so by finishing the season on good terms, as it’ll allow for a higher sale value.
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