Chelsea FC appears to be leading the race to sign Moises Caicedo, the talented midfielder from Brighton & Hove Albion. However, the negotiation process is expected to be challenging, given Brighton’s high player valuation.
The 21-year-old Ecuadorian international has been a revelation for Brighton, attracting interest from several top clubs, including Bayern Munich. However, Chelsea seems to be at the front of the queue, undeterred by Brighton’s high asking price.
Earlier this year, Brighton rejected a £70 million bid from Arsenal for Caicedo. The club’s owner, Tony Bloom, reportedly values the player as high as £120 million. While it’s unlikely any club would meet this valuation, Chelsea may have to shell out well over £80 million or include a player in the deal to secure Caicedo’s signature.
One such player could be Levi Colwill, who spent the last season on loan at Brighton. However, Chelsea rejected Brighton’s bid for the defender, insisting he will be part of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad next season. Another potential player to be included in the deal could be Conor Gallagher.
Despite the high price tag, Chelsea believes that Caicedo would be open to a move to Stamford Bridge and that personal terms would not be an issue. This comes as Arsenal shifts its focus to Declan Rice from West Ham, and Newcastle United also shows interest in Caicedo.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Chelsea can negotiate a deal that satisfies Brighton’s high valuation and secures this promising talent for their squad.
