Brighton and Hove Albion are closing in on a move for Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba, having struck an agreement with the French side for him.
That’s according to journalist Gianluca di Marzio, who says the player will be ‘arriving’ at Brighton before the end of the window in a deal worth €27m plus €3m in bonuses.
Brighton are on the hunt for a replacement for Moises Caicedo, who left the club in a huge move to Chelsea.
While the Seagulls had been expecting his departure for some time it has still left a hole in their midfield that will need to be filled, particularly with Alexis Mac Allister also having left the club.
Baleba is the name that has been linked consistently since Caicedo’s departure and it appears a deal has now been struck.
Di Marzio reports that Brighton will pay €27m plus €3m in bonuses for the 19-year-old, who only made the step up from Lille’s B team in July last year.
He played a substitutes role for the French side last season making 19 appearances in all competitions totalling 470 minutes, with only five of his 32 appearances in the squad list seeing him in the starting XI.
It seems Brighton are convinced on him nonetheless and now willing to pay to get him, with that deal progressing.
