Tottenham have entered the Carlos Baleba conversation alongside Liverpool and Manchester United, but a January move looks difficult.

According to Ekrem Konur, Tottenham are looking to position themselves strongly in the race for Carlos Baleba. The north Londoners are aiming to convince the midfielder to choose them over others, as Manchester United and Liverpool are seen as big contenders, although a January move by either of those teams looks difficult owing to Brighton’s rumoured demands.

Brighton held their ground and barely even entertained the prospect of selling Carlos Baleba despite media reports ramping up Manchester United’s interest. The Seagulls reportedly showed no interest in holding talks with the Red Devils after Ruben Amorim’s side made direct contact.

As per Ekrem Konur, Brighton were rumoured to ask a fee in the region of £100-120 million, which may have proved prohibitive for Manchester United or any interested parties. Some reports have stated Baleba’s head was turned by the Red Devils’ interest, which could give Amorim’s side hope about a January move.

However, given the price point demanded in the summer, Brighton are not expected to lower that. If anything, another recent report stated the £100-120 million-rated Premier League midfielder’s price might increase ahead of future windows, as Brighton might demand a fee close to the one they sold Moises Caicedo to Chelsea.

Liverpool are also interested in Baleba, as they continue to search for a viable midfield option to improve their ranks. The Merseysiders have developed a reputation for spending big following their exploits during the summer, and may not shy away from paying a top price for Baleba if they were genuinely keen on the Brighton star.

Tottenham enters Carlos Baleba chase

Tottenham are the latest to enter the race for Baleba, as Thomas Frank wants to bring a top-draw Premier League midfielder into his squad. Spurs do have a big appeal in the market owing to their location as well as the club’s growing stature.

Spurs will be tested with their ability to challenge teams like Manchester United and Liverpool. Frank is eager to shore up his midfield in the January window with links to stars like Conor Gallagher already active in the media. However, in the case of Baleba, Spurs may have to wait until the end of the season to try and make an approach to convince Brighto.