Liverpool are interested in signing 19-year-old Carlos Baleba from the French club, LOSC Lille. The problem is, Brighton also want him to replace Moises Caicedo, who moved to Chelsea.
Liverpool’s lack of a reliable midfielder was clear in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea on August 13 at Stamford Bridge after Fabinho and Henderson were sold to Saudi teams for €60 million. Now the midfield conundrum is in play, and the Reds must contend with the Seagulls for their quarry.
To add to the competition, Newcastle United, AC Milan, Juventus, and AS Monaco are also keeping an eye on the Lille midfielder Baleba.
Brighton have already made a play for the young Cameroonian, seeing him as the ideal alternative for Caicedo, who has signed on with Chelsea for eight years.
Roberto De Zerbi’s team Brighton have already offered €17 million plus €3 million in add-ons for Balebo, according to the transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano. But Lille are holding out. The rising star has a high €30 million price tag, but there’s a catch: Lille just bought him from Cameroon’s Brasseries in January 2022.
Baleba made his senior debut in Lille’s 4-1 victory over Auxerre in August last year. Since then, he has been a force on the field in 22 games across several levels, contributing two assists.
Liverpool targeted Moises Caicedo after originally focusing on Romeo Lavia. But Southampton rejected all three Liverpool offers for the Belgian international.
Meanwhile, Chelsea also wanted Lavia — and got him. The Blues have reached an agreement with Southampton for the Belgian midfielder for around €60 million plus add-ons.