Chelsea have been linked with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, a target for Liverpool, in recent weeks.
Moises Caicedo was expected to move to Liverpool after they agreed on a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion. But it seems that Chelsea are now closing in on his capture. Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Blues have agreed on a long-term contract with the 21-year-old. And a report from Daily Telegraph adds that Chelsea are close to agreeing £115 million fee with Brighton.
Chelsea have been looking to sign the 21-year-old for weeks now, and the player has already agreed personal terms with the club. Liverpool did well to get ahead of the queue and agree on a deal with Brighton. But it seems that the player prefers the move to Stamford Bridge.
Caicedo will sign an eight-year contract with Chelsea, and he should be the ideal long-term replacement for N’Golo Kante. The French international midfielder left the club earlier this summer, and the Blues needed to replace him adequately. It will be interesting to see whether Liverpool decide to move on to other targets now.
The Reds will need to sign a top-class defensive midfielder as well after the departure of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. Caicedo has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the league, and he could have been an exceptional acquisition for Liverpool. The 21-year-old would certainly improve Chelsea and he will be a key asset for them in the coming seasons.
Understand the agreement between Moisés Caicedo and Chelsea is for a contract valid until June 2031 🔵🇪🇨
…but the contract will also include an option until 2032, one more season.
Caicedo agreed personal terms with Chelsea at the end of May.
Clubs working to close deal now. pic.twitter.com/aELVHCiuzr
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2023
Mauricio Pochettino will look to put together a formidable squad capable of challenging for major trophies, and the 21-year-old will certainly help them improve. Chelsea had a disappointing 2022/23 season, finishing 12th in the league table. They will be hoping to get back into the Champions League next season.
The Blues spent a significant amount of money on Enzo Fernandez during the January transfer window. And it seems that they are ready to pay more than that for the Premier League midfielder now. Caicedo should prove to be a quality partner for Fernandez at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield.
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In theory, the two midfielders should complement each other perfectly and help Chelsea dominate contests in the middle of the park. The £115 million agreement would be a British transfer record sum eclipsing the fee Arsenal paid for Declan Rice earlier this summer. It will be interesting to see if the midfielder can live up to the expectations at Stamford Bridge once the move is finalised.
