Newcastle United are targeting Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba in a deal that could reach £65 million, according to reports — as the club looks to rebuild following a turbulent summer of high-profile departures.

Big exits, big funds to spend

The sales of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Bruno Guimarães generated a combined £237 million for Newcastle this summer. A portion of that has already been committed, with the club spending £136.6 million across five new signings: goalkeepers Ewen Jaouen and Lukas Hornicek, winger Bazoumana Toure, and midfielders Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba.

However, all five arrivals are untested in the Premier League, having come from France, Portugal, Germany, and the Netherlands. Notably, only Hornicek was born before 2006, meaning new head coach Matthias Jaissle is working with a remarkably young squad.

Baleba: the experienced option

That context makes Baleba an attractive proposition. The Cameroon international, 22, has already made 92 Premier League appearances since joining Brighton from Lille in 2023 — a level of top-flight exposure that none of Newcastle's summer recruits can match.

Manchester United had previously been linked with Baleba, but those reports suggest their interest has since cooled, potentially clearing the path for Newcastle to move.

Injury adds uncertainty

A complicating factor is an ankle ligament injury that has sidelined Baleba. The Daily Mail described the pursuit as not an active transfer deal at present, calling it instead one to keep an eye on. Yet sources cited by talkSPORT indicate Newcastle believe a deal is achievable at around £65 million, though the same sources raised doubts about whether Brighton would entertain an offer in that range.

With trust to rebuild after a difficult season and the departures of fan favourites, Newcastle's ownership will be eager to show supporters that ambition remains intact — and landing Baleba would go some way toward making that case.