Exclusive:'High, high, high value' - Why Man United target Carlos Baleba is worth £100m
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Former Cameroon international Sebastien Bassong believes Carlos Baleba's transfer value remains high despite his struggles this season.
Baleba's form has improved in the last few matches but overall the former Lile man has been way below his best this term.
Manchester United tried to sign the Albion midfielder during last summer's transfer window but Brighton's £100m-plus valuation cooled interest.
The failed move unsettled Baleba and the 22-year-old's performances on the pitch suffered.
The Cameroon ace has managed 29 Premier League appearances but has only completed 90 minutes three times this season.
Bassong, who played for Tottenham, Newcastle and Norwich, feels the Manchester United transfer interest had an emotional impact on Baleba, one that he struggled to recover from.
Baleba wanted to leave
"He's struggling because he went up against something that he wasn't ready for," said Bassong to Sussex World, via BetGoodwin.
"He wanted to leave, or he thought he was going to leave. He couldn't handle Man United or bigger clubs to come, and I think he was dreaming.
"Emotionally, that's when you see that he was young. First really big transfer, that always makes you feel some type of way. That always the unknown.
"You're going into an area you've never been before. That's been a big learning curve for him. That's why he's been struggling, because he couldn't really, quick enough, recover from the upset.
"He's young, so he needed a bit of flow, a bit of continuity.
"He missed at the start of the season. When you miss the pre-season, sometimes you're always playing catch-up.
"A player like him, which is powerful, we need that confidence.
"When he's always playing catch-up, you're never going to see the best of him. Once he's settled and everything's going to be good, having a proper pre-season physically and mentally, do you see the best Carlos Baleba? No!"
Baleba’s value remains high
Bassong is though convinced that a big money move is still possible for his countryman and feels his value remains high, despite his poor recent form.
"I think his move has potential when it's business-driven. People know what he's worth.
"People know what he's capable of. People can assess why he hasn't been that good, and he's still young.
"He still has a high, high, high value. If he was older, it would have been a different ballgame.
"The fact that he's still young, his money, his value is still up there. He's got a fabulous career in front."