Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has played down concerns over losing key players this transfer window, insisting he does not “feel fear” despite mounting interest in midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Manchester United are reportedly keen on the Cameroon international, with Brighton valuing him at a hefty £103m (€120m).
Baleba, who arrived from Lille in 2023, has made 61 Premier League appearances in two seasons, contributing three goals and one assist while helping the Seagulls to 11th and 8th-place finishes.
Speaking on the BBC’s Monday Night Club podcast, Hurzeler, whose side narrowly missed out on European qualification last term, was asked if he was worried about losing his top talents.
“No chance. I don’t feel fear,” came the young manager’s response. “I’m not afraid of anything, because the only thing we can do is be the best version we can be every day, like work as hard as we can.
“All the other things we can’t influence, so we really have to focus on us. For sure, we can’t spend the money like the big teams, but one of our biggest values is togetherness.
“And if you stay together, if we try to push our limits and increase the boundaries, then I’m sure we can compete with the big teams.”
Brighton have developed a reputation in recent years for generating large transfer fees, with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella all moving on for over £50m each.
Baleba is the latest Seagulls player who could potentially leave for an eye-catching sum this summer. But despite ongoing speculations, the Cameroonian is expected to be available for Brighton’s season open against Fulham on August 16.
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