Chelsea have reportedly fail with an improved bid for Brighton & Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein and Andy Naylor, Brighton & Hove Albion have rejected an improved bid from Chelsea for star midfielder Moises Caicedo in the ongoing summer transfer window. The Seagulls value the youngster at £100 million.
The 21-year-old has been on the Blues’ radar for a while now. But they have been unable to reach an agreement with the Seagulls. Having already lost Alexis Mac Allister on the cheap, it is unlikely that Brighton will lower their £100 million asking price for Caicedo.
The Ecuadorian international signed a new deal earlier this year, handing Brighton further ammo in negotiations. Chelsea made a first bid of £60 million for the player in June, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Perhaps as expected, Chelsea returned with an improved £70 million bid for the player but to no avail. The offer was for £70 million fixed with no add-ons. The total package was massively lesser than the fee the Blues splashed out for Enzo Fernandez earlier this year.
Brighton rejecting the second bid immediately sets the goalposts and is a clear indication that they are unwilling to negotiate for amounts they feel are below Caicedo’s value. The 21-year-old is not just experienced but also a dynamic player who can make a massive difference for Chelsea in the middle of the park.
The player, for his part, is keen to make the move and has already expressed his desire to play for the Stamford Bridge outfit. The ball is now in Chelsea’s court, and the onus is on them to fork out the cash to see the agreement over the line.
With less than a month to go before the 2023/24 season kicks off, Chelsea are yet to make key additions to their midfield. Having lost Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante this summer, it is an area of the squad that cannot be left unaddressed for long.
Pairing Caicedo with Fernandez should give Pochettino and Co the base needed in the middle of the park to build his squad around. But with Liverpool and Arsenal also in the fray, the Blues will need to move fast to avoid any late complications.
