Carlos Baleba finds himself at a crossroads at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The midfielder continues to carry a £100 million valuation internally, even as his current situation on the south coast raises fresh questions. Manchester United remain long-term admirers, but Baleba’s form and standing at Brighton are entering a period of uncertainty.

That uncertainty was underlined in midweek when he was substituted after just 22 minutes of the defeat to Aston Villa. It was a difficult moment for the 22-year-old, who appeared distraught on the bench after being withdrawn so early in the contest.

Baleba has completed just two Premier League matches this season, a statistic that reflects a stop-start campaign.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler was quick to provide context. Baleba had received an early yellow card and, with the match becoming increasingly stretched, there were concerns he could be at risk of a second booking.

“We’ve already spoken,” Hurzeler said. “In the end, it’s a bad decision from the referee to give him, in this situation, a yellow card.

“It’s a wrong decision for me. I saw a lot of similar fouls afterwards without giving yellow cards so it doesn’t make sense for me.”

Struggling to reset

Hurzeler framed the substitution as a protective measure rather than punishment, and it is not the first time this season Baleba has been taken off after being booked.

However, there is a broader question surrounding his ability to rediscover his best rhythm. Some observers feel he has struggled to fully reset following strong interest from Manchester United last year, with suggestions his focus may have been unsettled during that period.

Intriguingly, United’s admiration has not faded. Sources indicate the club still hold genuine interest in Baleba, though Brighton remain firm on their £100m valuation — a figure that makes any immediate move highly improbable.

It is understood that if his price tag were closer to £70m, the chances of him re-emerging as an active target would increase significantly.

Complicating matters further, United are expanding their midfield search. Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace are among the leading alternatives under consideration. Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United has also entered the thinking, while Joao Gomes at Wolverhampton Wanderers is attracting attention.

For now, Baleba remains highly valued at Brighton — but faces a pivotal stretch as he looks to steady his form and define his next step.