Chelsea get Caicedo boost as £100m-rated midfielder ‘issues Brighton demand’

Moises Caicedo and his camp are reportedly set to ask Brighton to reduce their asking price for his services this summer. The news comes after Chelsea saw an £80million bid for the Ecuador international rejected.

Mauricio Pochettino has made it his mission to rebuild his side’s midfield since becoming the Blues boss this summer. The ex-Tottenham boss saw Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic – among others – depart to create space for new arrivals.

However, Pochettino is yet to welcome any fresh faces in that department and time is running out at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea made Caicedo their top target once last season concluded and have now seen three bids for his services rejected, despite the player being keen to make the move to Chelsea.

Brighton believe that the 21-year-old is worth £100m, though the Blues are not willing to meet such a valuation. With uncertainty surrounding the transfer now, The Times report that the player and his camp will take matters into their own hands.

The midfielder is said to be keen to join Chelsea and will therefore, with the help of his entourage, attempt to ‘persuade’ Brighton to reduce their asking price so that a transfer can be facilitated. Caicedo is reportedly ‘growing frustrated’ by the situation but would like to handle the matter ‘sensitively’, having failed to force his way out of the club in January.

The playmaker was the subject of Arsenal last season but Brighton declared that they would not entertain any offers due to their European push – which proved successful. However, despite the firm stance, Caicedo attempted to make it clear that he was keen to be a part of the Gunners’ title charge by releasing a public plea on Instagram, which ultimately fell on deaf ears at the Amex Stadium.

Chelsea will be hoping to learn if Caicedo’s renewed attempt to leave Brighton is successful imminently as they weigh up whether to submit a new bid. The Blues have lined up Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia as an alternative to the Seagulls star but they do not have time to waste on that front.

The Belgium international is in advanced talks to join Liverpool this summer and a second verbal offer has been submitted for his services in a package worth up to £45m including add-ons. Chelsea had completed a lot of groundwork to sign Lavia throughout last season but now ultimately look set to miss out.