Chelsea are keen on signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion before the summer transfer window closes.
A report from Daily Mail claims that Chelsea are considering an £80 million bid to sign 21-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo. But it remains to be seen whether Brighton are prepared to sanction his departure.
The midfielder was heavily linked with the move away from Brighton during the January transfer window and Arsenal submitted offers to sign the player. However, Brighton turned down the approaches and convinced the player to sign a new contract with them. Caicedo has a long-term deal with the Premier League club, and Brighton are unlikely to let him leave for cheap.
Chelsea will have to pay a premium for him. So it remains to be seen whether the £80 million offer is enough to convince Brighton. The Seagulls have already lost Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool, and they are expected to lose Caicedo this summer as well.
They will be looking to recoup as much as possible for their star midfielder so that they can strengthen the squad significantly. The 21-year-old midfielder has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, and he could improve Chelsea immensely.
The Blues have parted ways with N’Golo Kante, and they will have to replace the Frenchman this summer. Kante was a key player for Chelsea, and they need a top-class player to replace him. Caicedo certainly has the potential to develop into a world-class midfielder, and he would be a superb long-term investment.
Although the £80 million fee might seem steep right now, the 21-year-old certainly has the potential to justify the outlay in the long run. Apart from his ability to win the ball back for his sight, Caicedo is exceptional at holding on to the ball and would add flair and agility in the middle of the park as well.
Chelsea will lose Mateo Kovacic this summer as well, and the midfield unit is clearly in need of reinforcements. The Blues spent a club-record fee on Enzo Fernandez during the January transfer window. But they need to bring in a quality partner for him now. Caicedo could form an excellent partnership with the Argentine international in the middle of the park next season.
