According to reports, Brighton and Hove Albion are set to sign Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba, who has been linked with Premier League rivals Liverpool.
The Reds are being linked with loads of midfielders as they are in the market for a player who can replace Fabinho, was has joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq.
Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure, Fulham’s Joao Pahlinha and Wolves’ Mario Lemina have been linked with Liverpool but Lille’s Baleba has also been mentioned as a potential target.
Earlier this month, TEAMtalk reported that ‘Liverpool are ready to jump on Brighton’s pursuit of Baleba as their Moises Caicedo replacement’.
The report added: ‘Teenager Baleba is currently with Lille but has been recognised by Brighton as the man they want to come in after selling Caicedo to Chelsea. However, as yet they have not met Lille’s £30m asking price.
‘Nottingham Forest and Brentford have also held talks, whilst Aston Villa and Newcastle are also keeping tabs on him.’
But French outlet Foot Mercato are now reporting that Brighton have ‘reached an agreement with LOSC for the transfer of the promising 19-year-old Cameroonian midfielder’, who ‘must go to England this week to undergo a medical’.
Brighton have been ‘seduced’ by Caicedo’s successor and ‘a transfer of around €30 million’ has been ‘agreed’ with the Ligue Un outfit.
Lille boss Paulo Fonseca lauded Baleba earlier this month. He said: “Carlos (Baleba) is a young player with great talent. He arrived last season, but he has already improved a lot. I have no doubt, I think he will become a great player.”
Man Utd-linked Sofyan Amrabat is also being linked with Liverpool but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano “cannot see him joining” Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“The only thing that happened with Liverpool was last week, before signing Endo, Liverpool had contact with the camp of Sofyan Amrabat to ask for information so how the player would cost on Fiorentina’s side, terms of the contract, so they discussed all the conditions of the deal and it was a good conversation but then internally, Liverpool decided to invest that money on Endo for multiple reasons,” Romano told Caught Offside.
“So I think, from what I am hearing at the moment, they are not in contact with Fiorentina or on the player’s side anymore so I don’t see Amrabat joining Liverpool. That was a possibility considered for 24 hours but Amrabat remains on Manchester United’s list, he’s always been appreciated by Atletico Madrid, we have to mention that because he has always been on their list but he is seen as too expensive for them.
“I still think he has a very good chance to leave the club in the final days of the window but not for Liverpool.”
