Brighton will not sell Baleba in January, asking over £100m

Brighton and Hove Albion have told Premier League clubs they will not sell midfielder Carlos Baleba during the January transfer window and are prepared to demand a fee in excess of 100 million pounds should they entertain offers, according to club officials and multiple reports. The 21 year old, who attracted significant interest over the summer, remains at the Amex Stadium for now, and Manchester United's hopes of a midseason signing have been stalled.

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said this week that interest had been shown but the club made clear Baleba was not available. "There was interest from Manchester United, and we said that he wasn't available this summer and they went away," Bloom said, adding that Baleba is a "massively important player" for Brighton. Club sources add that Brighton view the midfielder as a long-term asset and believe several top European clubs will track him before any sale.

United made an approach in the summer but were rebuffed, and their heavy outlay on attacking signings has limited their transfer flexibility for a costly midfield purchase in January. Insiders say United remain keen on improving their central midfield in 2026 and may revisit...