An unnamed Saudi Arabian club have reportedly made an approach to Brighton over the signing of Moises Caicedo, who is Chelsea’s No.1 midfield target.
Chelsea have been leading the chase for the defensive midfielder all summer and have had multiple bids rejected by Brighton they hold out for their £100million asking price, with the Blues’ most recent offer being £80million.
According to Sky Sports (h/t The Daily Mail), Chelsea have not given up on Moises Caicedo, but it looks like an unidentified Saudi Pro League club have now joined the race for his signature.
Mauricio Pochettino now faces competition in his pursuit of Caicedo, who has agreed personal terms with the Blues and wants to move to Stamford Bridge this summer. Brighton assured the Ecuador international, who signed a new four-year contract earlier this year, that he could leave the club if they receive an offer close to Arsenal’s in January.
The report adds Declan Rice’s £105m move from West Ham to Arsenal, however, prompted a change in plans, with the Seagulls now keen to collect a similar fee for the 21-year-old.
Moises Caicedo to Chelsea—Should the Blues meet Brighton’s £100million asking price?
Chelsea are desperately short of midfield options having sold N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic earlier in the summer transfer window. Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher are now the only two senior central midfielders available to start for Pochettino’s side. The Pensioners have signed Andrey Santos and Lesley Ugochukwu but they are youngsters, with the latter expected to head out on loan to Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.
Thus, midfield reinforcements are an absolute necessity for Chelsea and they have been in hot pursuit of Moises Caicedo throughout the summer. Caicedo emerged as one of the Premier League’s finest young midfielders last season, with the Ecuadorian playing a vital role in Brighton’s qualification for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
Caicedo would be a superb partner for Enzo Fernandez in Chelsea’s midfield, allowing the Argentinean to get up the pitch and do his magic in the final third. He is exactly the kind of profile that will give balance and stability to the Chelsea engine room, whilst proving an invaluable long-term asset at Stamford Bridge. Primarily a No.6, the 21-year-old can be moulded into workhorse No.8 with coaching and guidance, and a manager like Pochettino may do that.
Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the country and they will need to replace a key player in Kante. Caicedo is certainly one of the best in his position in the Premier League, and he would be worth the premium Brighton are demanding for his services. Brighton are fair in their stance of digging their heels in over a fee for the player destined for big things in the future.
With only a week to go until the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season, Chelsea really cannot afford to miss out on Caicedo now having chased him all summer. Thus, it is high time for them to put the saga to bed and pay the £100million premium for the Ecuadorian midfielder’s signature.