According to a report in The Athletic, an unnamed club has made an £80 million plus offer for midfielder Moises Caicedo who is also a target for Chelsea.
The Blues are desperate to add a new central midfielder before the new season Premier League begins and they have their sight set on signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion.
The midfielder has no problems in joining Chelsea but Brighton are not refusing to budge from their valuation of £100 million. Chelsea are in continued negotiations with the Seagulls and amidst this, an unnamed club has tried to sign Caicedo.
According to Sky Sports, a Saudi Arabian team has made this offer but Brighton have stayed true to their word and swiftly knocked back the £80 million plus proposal. The Seagulls know that all the big boys in England need top-class midfielders and after Rice’s move to Arsenal, not many impactful central defenders are available in the transfer market.
Will Chelsea match or better the new offer for Moises Caicedo?
Brighton are very clear they want nothing less than £100 million for Moises Caicedo and because his contract with the club expires in 2027, they are in no hurry to offload him. He’s spent just one full season with Brighton and because the club finished sixth last season, the 21-year-old will be able to play to taste European football this campaign.
Chelsea have gotten rid of Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, and Mason Mount and there’s also a chance that Conor Gallagher could leave as well. This would leave Enzo Fernandez as the only central midfielder which is why Pochettino is so desperate to sign the Brighton man.
So far, Brighton have rejected as many as four bids from Chelsea and the Blues’ last offer was £80 million (£75m plus £5m in add-ons). The latest bid from the Saudi club was more than what Chelsea had last offered and we think this bid was not too far off from the £80 million offer which is probably why Brighton are not interested.
It’s still unclear if this unnamed club will make another approach for Moises Caicedo but there are already whispers that Chelsea are growing frustrated and they are about to activate their other options.
Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia has also been on Chelsea’s radar and if Caicedo’s issue lingers on for longer then there’s a big chance the Blues will seriously go after Lavia.
The Saints want £50 million for the central midfielder and right now, Romeo Lavia is close to joining Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has asked his management to sign the Belgium international but if Chelsea want, they can very well stage a coup.
Spending £50 million won’t be a problem for the Blues and if they feel they won’t be able to sign Moises Caicedo then definitely they will challenge Liverpool in the Romeo Lavia transfer.
Caicedo had a much better season with Brighton as compared to Romeo Lavia whose team have been relegated from the Premier League however, it makes little sense to press hard and go head-on with a Saudi Pro League.
As far as Brighton are concerned, they will let the South American leave if they get £100 million but they will be happier if the 21-year-old joins a Middle Eastern team instead of a direct rival.
