Liverpool are flying high this season as they remain in contention for the Premier League title, the Champions League and the League Cup.
Arne Slot has worked wonders at Liverpool since taking the reins following Jurgen Klopp’s departure at the end of last season.
Indeed, Liverpool have been superb despite not making many signings this season, with just Federico Chiesa arriving at Anfield since last summer.
This means Liverpool should have the means to go big in the summer as they look to strengthen their squad in anticipation of more silverware.
Now, according to a report, the Reds have set their sights on a midfielder backed to become “one of the best players in the Premier League“.
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Liverpool join Manchester City in Carlos Baleba race
The player in question is Carlos Baleba, who has been superb for Brighton & Hove Albion since joining from Lille for around £23million in 2023.
Liverpool are monitoring Baleba after deciding that they want to bring in another presence in the middle of the park, according to GiveMeSport.
Manchester City are also in pursuit of Baleba, though they reportedly made contact with the Seagulls last year but were told he was out of reach.
And while Brighton want to keep the 21-year-old for another season, this hasn’t deterred Liverpool, who remain eager for his signature, added the report.
However, Baleba wouldn’t come cheap. The Guardian recently reported that his price tag ‘could exceed the £115million Chelsea paid for (Moises) Caicedo.’
What Baleba could bring to Liverpool
Baleba is the kind of player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and dictate the pace, as per Breaking the Lines.
The scouting outlet lists physical dominance, elite line-breaking with progressive carries and line-breaking passes, and incredible game-reading and intelligence as his key strengths.
Former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi previously said of Baleba, as per the Morning Star: “He can become one of the best players in the Premier League in the future, for sure.”
Meanwhile, some Arsenal fans called on their club to sign Baleba recently, saying he’d be a suitable replacement for Thomas Partey.