Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton Manager Rejects Manchester United Bid Talk for Carlos Baleba
Hürzeler is ‘very, very, very confident’ Baleba will stay amid valuation and fitness doubts. .
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hürzeler has pushed back on reports linking midfielder Carlos Baleba with a move to Manchester United this summer, stressing the club’s position and the player’s current situation.
Reports say Baleba is interested in the move, but Brighton face significant bargaining power. The player remains under contract for three more years, the club hold an option to extend for another 12 months, and he is valued at over £100 million ($135.4 million). Those facts, combined with Brighton’s stance, create a clear obstacle to any transfer.
Ahead of Brighton’s Premier League opener against Fulham, Hürzeler was asked whether he was confident Baleba would stay beyond this summer. “Very, very, very confident,” he stressed. “That’s just my belief.” The manager framed his response as a matter of conviction rather than negotiation detail.
Baleba’s participation in Saturday’s match was uncertain because of a knee injury. Hürzeler confirmed the player’s fitness will determine his availability and that the midfielder remains an option to start if he proves ready. The manager also dismissed any suggestion that external attention has unsettled the squad.
“I didn’t see any change, he’s only changed his hair,” Hürzeler laughed. “I think that’s the only change he’s made in the last two weeks.
“But overall he seems to be in a really good place, he’s enjoying it with his teammates, he’s enjoying being a Brighton player. He’s very grateful to have had the process he had last season.
“I didn’t see any big changes and he’s an option to start tomorrow.”
Hürzeler’s comments underscore Brighton’s posture: a contracted, highly valued midfielder, the possibility of injury affecting selection, and a manager publicly committed to keeping his squad intact for the season opener. The club’s valuation and the contract situation will be central to any future discussions about Baleba’s future.
Brighton & Hove Albion
United Hold On to Beat Brighton 4-2 as Mbeumo’s Brace Seals Third Straight Win
Mbeumo brace and late drama sealed United’s 4-2 win over Brighton, with Cunha and Casemiro on target.
Manchester United claimed a third consecutive Premier League victory after a turbulent 4-2 success over Brighton & Hove Albion. The match swung several times, but Bryan Mbeumo’s second goal in stoppage time ensured all three points for the Red Devils.
Matheus Cunha opened the scoring before the interval after being picked out by Casemiro, a composed finish that eased early nerves. United then profited from Brighton’s loose possession: Casemiro’s long-range attempt took a heavy deflection off Yasin Ayari to find the net and stretch the lead. Benjamin Šeško squandered a clear chance just before half-time, rifling over from close range.
The visitors started the second half under pressure and United finally made the game safe after the hour. Šeško fizzed a pass into Mbeumo, who cut inside and finished low into the near post for his first of the afternoon. Brighton responded through Danny Welbeck, whose free kick beat Senne Lammens with 15 minutes remaining and shifted the momentum. A stoppage-time header from Charalampos Kostoulas then reduced the deficit, but Mbeumo’s 97th-minute close-range finish completed his brace and confirmed the result.
Player ratings reflected several strong performances. Bryan Mbeumo led the way with a 9.3 for his two goals and constant threat in the final third. Casemiro earned an 8.6 after a goal and an assist and strong midfield protection. Matheus Cunha was rated 8.4 for his opener and influence in attack. Bruno Fernandes received an 8.1 for his role as a deep-lying playmaker. Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot each scored 7.4 for industrious displays, while Benjamin Šeško was given 7.6. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was marked 6.4 after a typically commanding outing that nonetheless included two late goals conceded.
Substitutes who featured included Ayden Heaven (7.2), Kobbie Mainoo (6.6) and Patrick Dorgu (6.3); Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte were introduced late and listed N/A. Unused substitutes included Altay Bayındır, Noussair Mazraoui, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount.
Match statistics showed United with 43% possession to Brighton’s 57%, expected goals of 1.13 to 1.07, and a shots count of 13 to 17, reflecting a tight but decisive home victory for the Red Devils.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Amorim Shrugs Off Slot and Prepares United for Brighton Test
Amorim dismisses Arne Slot’s comments and focuses on improving United’s ball play for Brighton match.
Ruben Amorim gave a terse reply to Arne Slot’s recent comments, cutting through the noise ahead of Manchester United’s home match with Brighton & Hove Albion. When pressed on Slot’s remarks at Friday’s press conference, Amorim responded simply: “I don’t care.”
He elaborated on his view of external criticism in the same briefing. “I don’t care what Slot is saying, what people are saying about our team,” he huffed during Friday’s press conference. “I can watch the game and say we can do better and we need to do better in the future but sometimes you need to adapt to the game.”
United goalkeeper Senne Lammens had previously highlighted the team’s tactical adjustment against Liverpool, noting that the Red Devils played long to avoid being smothered by Liverpool’s high press, an approach that delivered the desired result after the famous Anfield victory.
Amorim left little room for outside analysis of his squad. “I don’t need anyone to evaluate my team,” Amorim added before turning his attention to the visit from Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. “I can evaluate my team and I am really clear that we should play better with the ball and we are going to try to do that in this game.”
Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler has been studying United’s responses and is preparing his side for a similar long-ball strategy. “The main thing you need to understand is that it starts with the press, how you attack the goalkeeper, which centre back you want to attack,” Hürzeler explained to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford. “And then make sure that you’re ready for the long ball.
“When the long ball is played, there are two things that are very important: that you try to win the second ball, and that, if you don’t win the second ball, you have good positioning for the third ball.
“Make sure that, with your last line, you always cover the inner line, so when they try to flick the ball, especially with [Benjamin] Šeško, you can defend against the deep runs from [Matheus] Cunha, from [Bryan] Mbeumo, from [Mason] Mount.
“They are very good at these things, so it’s a job for the whole team, not only of the defensive players. The main thing is to keep the compactness, make sure you have close distances, that you close the gaps, and that you’re really intense for the second ball.”
Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s public tone has come under scrutiny amid Liverpool’s poor run of form. Slot’s comment calling Newcastle United a “smaller club” while discussing Alexander Isak’s recovery was deflected by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. “I don’t think that’s wise for me to get involved in those discussions,” Howe replied. “Alex is no longer at this football club, so I won’t comment on it.”
When reminded of Newcastle’s position in the Champions League phase and their ambitions, Howe added: “The set-up is here is very good. It is not perfect, we’ve got things to improve and to grow. But the owners here have developed the facilities since I’ve been here very, very well. ]
Brighton & Hove Albion
Man Utd v Brighton: Tactical Test as United Seek Third Straight Win
United seek third straight win at Old Trafford as Brighton arrive unbeaten and dangerous. Fresh tests
Manchester United head into Saturday’s meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion aiming for a third consecutive win under Amorim after back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in his tenure. Brighton arrive unbeaten in five matches in all competitions and have already beaten Manchester City and Chelsea this season.
Recent form (selected results)
Liverpool 1–2 Man Utd – 19/10/25
Man Utd 2–0 Sunderland – 04/10/25
Brentford 3–1 Man Utd – 27/09/25
Man Utd 2–1 Chelsea – 20/09/25
Man City 3–0 Man Utd – 14/09/25
Brighton 2–1 Newcastle – 18/10/25
Wolves 1–1 Brighton – 05/10/25
Chelsea 1–3 Brighton – 27/09/25
Barnsley 0–6 Brighton – 23/09/25
Brighton 2–2 Tottenham – 20/09/25
Injury and selection update
United are relatively healthy with Lisandro Martínez the only confirmed absentee. Harry Maguire and Mason Mount are listed as minor doubts, though Amorim did not seem particularly concerned. United used a striker-less system to good effect on Merseyside, but Amorim could opt for a focal forward here. Benjamin Šeško has shown signs of growing more comfortable and could return to the starting XI, potentially in place of Mount. Leny Yoro may also be recalled, but substantial changes from what the coach called the most impressive victory of his reign seem unlikely.
Predicted Man Utd lineup (3-4-2-1): Lammens; De Ligt, Maguire, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Šeško.
Brighton arrive with more selection uncertainty. Hürzeler is not yet sure whether he’ll have Kaoru Mitoma because of an ankle problem, while Brajan Gruda and Joel Veltman are doubts. Diego Gómez is in contention. Jack Hinshelwood, Adam Webster and Solly March remain out long term. Danny Welbeck, fresh from a brace in the win over Newcastle United, will lead the line. Carlos Baleba, linked with a summer move to Old Trafford, is a player to watch.
Predicted Brighton lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Gómez; Welbeck.
Tactical note
Brighton’s attacking fluidity and movement have unsettled United in this fixture previously, while goalkeeping errors have also been costly. United’s expected goals tally ranks second in the Premier League, and a direct approach with Šeško as a focal point would be a sensible way to press their advantage.
