Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has linking him to Liverpool and Arsenal. The 20-year-old has been a standout performer for the Seagulls, filling the void left by the departures of Yves Bissouma and Moises Caicedo to Tottenham and .
His impressive displays have caught the attention of top clubs including , as well as and Tottenham. However, with four years remaining on his contract, Brighton are reluctant to let him go.
Baleba has now echoed the club's sentiments, stating that he is focused on working hard and helping his team, rather than seeking a move. In an interview with Sky Sports, he said: "I don't really think like that: playing for two or three years and then leaving. Me? I just work. In my head it's all about working and helping my club.
"If I can help a team-mate, I will. If they can help me, I'll accept that help to push forward and develop. So I just work to help my team and for myself, to progress for the future.
"I don't know if I'm going to be the star or the next big thing. For me, being the star is quite a lot. Everyone talking about you, singing your name? That just doesn't do it for me. It's not something that gets me running. I just prefer getting my head down and working on the pitch."
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has praised Baleba for his impressive displays this season. In September, he commented: "I think he's a great player, he's developing and improving fast and he's adapting to the ideas very quickly.
"He understands it and as I have always said he has so much potential. When we go into detail there's so many things where you can improve, and our job is to help him and to give him this environment. I have great staff who help him every day – my assistant coaches and my analysts work with him and talk to him."
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