Liverpool handed blow as Brighton close in on signing midfield target – Reports
Liverpool have reportedly been handed a transfer blow as Brighton & Hove Albion inch closer to signing Lille star Carlos Baleba this summer.
The Reds are currently in pursuit of a holding midfielder after Fabinho and Jordan Henderson's high-profile departures earlier past month. They have signed Wataru Endo as a squad option for £16 million from Stuttgart after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Earlier this month, TEAMtalk reported that Jurgen Klopp's outfit are willing to sign Baleba, beating Brighton in the process. They are also set to face competition from the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Brentford this summer.
However, according to Foot Mercato, Brighton are set to edge Liverpool in the race to snap up the Cameroonian in the final days of the ongoing transfer window. They have reached an agreement with Lille over a potential £26 million move for the 19-year-old left-footed star.
Brighton, who have spent over £60 million on five new players so far this summer, have allegedly scheduled a medical for Baleba later this week. They are expected to announce the Lille academy product soon.
Earlier this summer, Lille manager Paulo Fonseca heaped praise on the Liverpool-linked midfielder. He told in a presser (h/t Football365):
Should Baleba snub the Reds to join Roberto De Zerbi's side, he would emerge as a solid rotational option at the Amex Stadium. He would provide competition to the likes of summer arrival Mahmoud Dahoud, Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour and James Milner in a 4-2-3-1 setup.
So far, Baleba has made 23 appearances for Lille, racking up 680 minutes of first-team minutes. He has provided two assists in the process.
Liverpool, who have lost five of their first-team
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