Fabian Hurzeler says Brighton have proved they are “not selling every player”
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has said he is not worried about the prospect of losing Carlos Baleba or any other key players this summer despite significant transfer interest.
Baleba has drawn attention from Manchester United who are looking to improve the quality in their midfield. Brighton are understood to value the Cameroon international at around €120m but want to keep him beyond this summer, viewing him as a key part of their project at least for the next year.
Speaking on the BBC’s Monday Night Club podcast, Hurzeler said he does not allow speculation to distract him or the squad.
“No chance, I don’t feel fear,” said Hurzeler. “The only thing we can do is be the best version we can be every day and 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.”
Brighton have a history of selling players for significant fees, having sold Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro, all of whom joined Chelsea for over €50m.
Caicedo moved to Stamford Bridge in 2023 for a fee rising to £115m, a Premier League record. Baleba was brought in shortly after to replace the Colombian.
But Brighton’s manager believes they don’t have to sell any asset this summer if they don’t want to.
Hurzeler said: “I think that as a club we have proved we are not only selling big players. We have had offers for other players – big offers for [Kaoru] Mitoma and other players – and we proved that we are not selling every player.”
Baleba missed Brighton’s final pre-season match against Wolfsburg with a minor knee problem, but he is expected to be fit for the Premier League opener against Fulham on 16 August.
