Baleba ‘affected’ by Man Utd transfer approach, claims Brighton manager

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has admitted that Carlos Baleba may have had his head turned by summer speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United.

United saw an approach for Baleba turned down in August, with reports claiming they were willing to offer as much as €100 million for the 21-year-old only for Brighton to insist the midfielder was not for sale.

Baleba has since endured mixed form to start the season and was subbed off at half-time of Brighton’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham but Hurzeler has insisted he will give the youngster time to realign himself after a difficult summer.

“For sure when a young boy reads there is interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep, deep (down),” said Hurzeler. “That’s also part of the development to understand that when you play well, there comes a big offer, there comes a big club who wants to have him.

“But then to keep pushing, to be humble, stay here in Brighton, and try to make the next step with the team and that’s something we have to keep on working with him and therefore I can’t give you a clear answer if it’s really affected him or not.

“But for sure, he’s a young boy and we need to understand he’s not a machine that if you click on then he always runs and off then he stops. We need to understand his feelings, his emotions, where he comes from, and that’s our responsibility.”

United still keen on Baleba signing despite Brighton start

Baleba has featured in all of Brighton’s matches this season but the Cameroonian wonderkid has yet to complete the full 90 minutes in any of his appearances, having been sidelined with injury for part of the pre-season.

Like Baleba, Brighton have yet to reach the form of last season where they finished 8th in the Premier League, with Hurzeler’s side sitting 14th after one win in their opening five matches.

Baleba was voted Brighton’s young player of the season after his standout campaign last year, which led to United eyeing him as the solution to their midfield woes.

However, Brighton resisted United’s approach despite the player’s openness to the move, although Ruben Amorim’s side are expected to reignite their interest in Baleba next summer.

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