Liverpool midfield target now available at £30m discount

Liverpool’s search for midfield reinforcements has taken a fresh twist after TEAMtalk reported that Brighton’s Carlos Baleba could be secured for around £70 million this summer, a significant drop from the £100 million-plus valuation the Seagulls placed on the 22-year-old only a year ago.

The Cameroon international, who joined Brighton from Lille in 2023, was monitored extensively by the Reds prior to his Premier League switch and remains on the club’s shortlist as sporting director Richard Hughes weighs up how best to refresh Arne Slot’s engine room. Although Hughes sanctioned £450 million of deals last off-season, central midfield was left largely untouched, and the position has since become a pressing concern.

Wataru Endo’s long-term injury has cast doubt over his Anfield future, while academy graduate Curtis Jones is locked in contract stalemate and could depart. Alexis Mac Allister, a standout during the 2024/25 title-winning campaign, has shown signs of regression, heightening the need for new blood.

Brighton’s willingness to soften their stance on Baleba has reignited Liverpool’s interest, yet Manchester United currently lead the race. Erik ten Hag’s side view the Cameroonian as the ideal anchor to succeed the outgoing Casemiro and upgrade on Manuel Ugarte, with Old Trafford chiefs prioritising a midfield overhaul despite the club’s £1.3 billion debt clouding the size of their summer budget.

Baleba, contracted until 2028 with an optional additional year, is understood to be open to a move that accelerates his development. Liverpool’s admiration is longstanding, but uncertainty persists over whether midfield will top Hughes’ agenda once the window opens.

Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are also under active consideration, yet the prospect of landing a proven Premier League operator at a £30 million discount may prove tempting for a club determined to defend their domestic crown while plotting another deep European run.