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MANAGER'S VIEW: HURZELER SHIELDS CARLOS BALEBA, ANDERSON FROM UNITED

Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson, both linked with Man Utd, face off as Brighton visit Nottingham Forest. Live updates.

Manager's View: Hurzeler Shields Carlos Baleba, Anderson from United
Hurzeler Compares Baleba, Anderson Amidst Man United Interest

Nottingham Forest takes on Brighton this Sunday at 2.05 pm at the City Ground in a Premier League match that has many eyes on it for more than just the game itself.

Manchester United is said to be looking for midfield reinforcements. Two players who might fill that void will be on the pitch this Sunday.

Brighton's Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson might face off. Also, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton will be playing against Manchester United at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

These three, Baleba, Anderson, and Wharton, are supposedly on United's list as Ruben Amorim aims to rebuild the midfield at Old Trafford this summer.

United reportedly tried to sign Baleba from Brighton in the last transfer window, but Brighton's asking price of over £100 million cooled their interest.

Baleba’s form has not been great this season. He was subbed at halftime for the fifth time this season against Brentford last week. He might be benched for Brighton's match against Forest.

Brighton’s coach, Fabian Hurzeler, is remaining patient with the 21-year-old from Cameroon and thinks he will recover his top form.

"We try to help every player get back to their best," Hurzeler said in his pre-match press conference. We take it one step at a time. We aren't pressuring Carlos Baleba by saying he has to play well. He wants to play well himself.

“It's about small improvements. It's about how often he is switched on and how he reacts when we lose the ball. Sometimes you need to be patient, and sometimes you need to be more demanding with players. You have to create the right environment and give them support.”

The talk of a move to United seemed to bother Baleba, but Hurzeler said that it is in the past.

"That's over," the German said. We are four months into the season. We can’t keep talking about those rumours.

“He needs to focus on being a Brighton player and performing here. He needs to get back to his best, avoid noise, avoid all the rumours, and focus on what he can control, which is football.

Fabian Hurzeler is a big fan of Elliot Anderson

Though the rumours continue for Baleba and Anderson. While Baleba has been struggling, Anderson has been playing very well. Hurzeler is a big admirer of the former Newcastle player.

He’s playing great,” said the Brighton boss. “He has a big impact. He’s always asking for the ball. He has great stats. He is always trying to find solutions.

He understands the game well. He’s a joy to watch. He’s a player we have to defend well against, or he can cause problems.

£35M LOSS: ANALYZING THE COLLAPSE OF HARVEY ELLIOTT'S MANDATORY VILLA TRANSFER

Harvey Elliott's loan to Aston Villa is ending early after just six months. The mandatory £35M purchase clause is now unlikely to be activated.

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Emery Confirms Elliott's Imminent Aston Villa Exit

Harvey Elliott's time at Aston Villa might be cut short. Just six months after joining the club, he might be leaving in January.

The attacking midfielder came from Liverpool on a season-long loan on deadline day in September.

The deal with Villa included a requirement to buy him, plus clauses about selling him later or buying him back.

But, Elliott hasn't played much since joining Villa, even though they won against other teams in the Premier League and Europe to get him.

Unai Emery said that the club is looking at what to do with the 22-year-old before the next transfer window opens next month.

This comes after Elliott didn't travel with the team for their Europa League game against Basel on Thursday.

Emery talked about Elliott's future at Villa in a press conference before a game.

He said, We're talking with him about his situation.

He's not with us. We hope we can find the best solution for him and for us.

I respect him as a player and as a person. He's training well, but there's a situation with him.

Hopefully, we can find a solution for him to play often and continue his career, either with us or somewhere else.

Elliott has played in only five games for Villa since joining, scoring once.

His last game was a short four-minute appearance against Feyenoord in the Europa League in October.

He hasn't been in the squad for any of Villa's last seven Premier League games.

Emery added, I've spoken with him two or three times about the situation.

First, my decision and also the situation. He's on loan with us, but he's not really contributing to us with a permanent contract.

This is a setback for Liverpool.

Liverpool was supposed to get £35 million when Elliott's loan to Villa became a permanent deal.

But the requirement to buy him kicks in only if he plays in 10 games for the club.

So, the Reds will likely miss out on that money this summer since he's only played about half that many games.

If Elliott leaves Villa, he'll likely have to return to Anfield in January.

The former England under-21 player played twice for Liverpool this season before being loaned out.

FIFA rules say players can only play for two clubs in one season.

Elliott could get around this rule by joining a club in a league that runs from summer to winter, like those in the MLS.

BUNDESLIGA STAR: ANALYZING NATHANIEL BROWN'S FIT FOR TOTTENHAM'S DEFENSE

An analytical look at Nathaniel Brown's Bundesliga performance shows why he is a top target for Spurs. Can they beat out three major rivals for the defender?

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Brown Could Be the Long-Term Answer for Tottenham Left-Back

According to a recent report from journalist Dean Jones, Tottenham Hotspur will have a tough time signing Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown. Spurs will have to compete with Manchester City, West Ham United, Manchester United, and Arsenal to get the German defender next year.

Brown has played well on Frankfurt’s left side this season. The 22-year-old has one goal and four assists in 20 games for the German club in all competitions.

The German player has shown he can defend well, with 30 tackles, 15 blocks, ten interceptions, and 16 clearances in the Bundesliga. He also passes the ball well from the left, with an 81.3% pass success rate in the German top league (stats via fbref.com).

His contract with the German club ends in the summer of 2030, so it won’t be easy for Tottenham to sign him next year.

Should Tottenham Hotspur Manager Thomas Frank Sign Brown?

Brown is a good tackler and times his challenges well to win the ball back. He clears the ball when the other team is attacking and is also a good passer.

The German player can score and assist goals from the left. Brown is mainly a left-back but can also play as a left-sided midfielder if needed. We’ll see if he can handle the Premier League’s physicality and intensity if Spurs sign him next year.

Brown would make Tottenham manager Thomas Frank’s defence better and deeper. He could earn a regular spot in the first team at the North London club in the years ahead.

At 22, Brown could become a star in English soccer if he keeps improving each season. Overall, Frank should sign him in 2026.

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