Carlos Baleba, the 21-year-old Cameroonian midfielder currently at Brighton & Hove Albion, has emerged as a hot transfer target amid Tottenham Hotspur’s plans to bolster their midfield.
As of December 4, there’s no confirmed deal or completed transfer to Tottenham (or any other club for that matter), but sources at The Boy Hotspur indicate strong interest from Spurs, positioning them in a potential bidding war with Manchester United.
Tottenham, under manager Thomas Frank, are eyeing midfield reinforcements for 2026, with Baleba seen as a long-term fit alongside or replacing players like Yves Bissouma.
Tottenham Hotspur first expressed interest in late November 2025, sensing an “opportunity” if Man Utd pivoted to alternatives like Joao Gomes or Elliot Anderson.
Manchester United led the chase in summer 2025 but cooled due to the price and Baleba’s form; they’re still in the mix but prioritising cheaper options. Other clubs like Liverpool and Man City have been loosely linked, but no firm bids.
The Seagulls view Baleba as a “€100m asset” and won’t budge on a cut-price deal, even with his recent dip.
Betting guidance is out there
Odds of a Tottenham move are low for January (under 20% per betting markets as of Dec 3), rising to moderate (40-50%) for summer 2026 if Spurs qualify for Europe and negotiate aggressively.
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 for around £10m and has since impressed with his technical ability, vision, and defensive nous in midfield. He’s under contract until 2028 (with an option for an extra year) and has 5 caps for Cameroon.
After a standout 2024/25 campaign, Baleba has dipped slightly this term (2 goals, 1 assist in 12 PL appearances), partly linked to summer speculation. Despite this, he’s still valued highly at around €100m (£88m / $114m) by Brighton, who are reluctant to sell in January.
Do Spurs actually need Baleba?
Tottenham are desperate for fresh blood. Fans picking holes in Thomas Frank appear unable to register what Ange Postecoglou did in his two seasons. Finishing 17th is still not impossible!