Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler says he is “100%” confident midfielder Carlos Baleba will remain at the club this season.
Manchester United made enquiries about the cost of signing the 21-year-old, but called off their pursuit earlier this month amid the Seagulls’ refusal to sell.
Baleba has started both of Brighton’s Premier League games so far and has made 80 appearances for the club since joining from Lille in 2023.
When asked if the Cameroon international will stay at Brighton past Monday’s transfer deadline, even if a lucrative bid come in, Hurzeler replied “yes”.
“If there is a number more than 100 [%], I would say more than 100, so fantastically confident,” said Hurzeler.
Brighton have signed six players this summer, including defenders Maxim de Cuyper from Club Brugge for £17.5m, Olivier Boscagli from PSV Eindhoven on a free transfer and Diego Coppola from Hellas Verona for an undisclosed fee.
Midfielder Tom Watson joined from Sunderland for £10m, winger Yoon Do-young was signed from Daejeon Hana Citizen and forward Charalampos Kostoulas was recruited from Olympiakos for £29.8m.
Hurzeler does not expect any more arrivals before the deadline.
“I have a feeling,” he said, when asked if Brighton were finished in the market.
“Sometimes it’s not so clever to share the feelings you have with the public, but overall I’m very happy with the squad.”
