Chelsea has entered strongly into the race to sign Brighton midfielder, Cameroonian Carlos Baleba, during the upcoming summer transfer window, surpassing Manchester United, amid strong competition from Paris Saint-Germain, as revealed by TEAMtalk.

A source indicated that Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are currently the most serious parties in the search to sign the 22-year-old player, after the impressive levels he has shown since joining Brighton from French side Lille in 2023, attracting attention from several major European clubs.

The report noted that Baleba, known for his physical strength and his ability to control the tempo of the game, is open to experiencing a new top-tier club, especially if he has the chance to participate in the Champions League and compete for titles.

With the decline in Brighton's results this season and their distance from European competitions, the chances of the player staying appear weak, especially with the club's policy of selling its stars, as happened previously with Caicedo and Mac Allister.

The report confirmed that Brighton's administration is preparing to demand a large sum of money, as Baleba's market value ranges between £80 million and £100 million, while Manchester United, along with Tottenham and Newcastle, continues to monitor the situation, but the advantage of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain remains predominant for now.

The midfielder has consolidated his role as the engine of Brighton during the current 2025/26 season. The 22-year-old Cameroonian international has made 22 total appearances for the English club across all competitions to date, accumulating 1,265 minutes on the pitch. In the Premier League, Baleba has participated in 19 matches, 16 of which have been as a starter, registering a total of 1,098 minutes of action.

In the league campaign so far, his influence in the center of the park is reflected in an 86.2 percent pass accuracy. Baleba has seen four yellow cards in the league and one more during his three appearances in the EFL Cup. Recently, the player rejoined the team after playing five matches with the Cameroon national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, maintaining his status as one of the league's most active defensive pivots with a solid average of recoveries and duels won per match.

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