According to reports, negotiations between Brighton and Hove Albion and French club Lille to sign midfielder Carlos Baleba are still ongoing.
The goal of Albion is to strengthen the central regions before the transfer market ends on September 1 after selling star midfielder Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for a price that might soar to £115 million last week.
Brighton is still interested in 19-year-old Lille player Baleba, who made a farewell appearance for the French club against Nantes over the weekend.
The Seagulls, who are now leading the inaugural Premier League standings after victories against Luton Town and Wolves, have already begun negotiations to sign the talented young Cameroonian player.
The original offer from Brighton for Carlos Baleba was €17 million plus €3 million in add-ons, but that wasn’t enough to impress Lille as the French club needed at least €30 million to complete the deal, according to Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano. Brighton believes that Baleba would be the best Caicedo replacement, and talks are still ongoing. Two additional names are on the list.
Despite Brighton’s impressive start, talks are reportedly still ongoing, and they are still looking to bolster their roster in time for their Europa League campaign.
The first continental match for Brighton is scheduled for September 21. The group stage draw takes place on September 1 – the same day the transfer window shuts.
James Milner, Mo Dahoud, Joao Pedro, Bart Verbruggen, and Igor Julio have all joined the Brighton team thus far.