Chelsea Football Club is progressing in its high-profile negotiation efforts to acquire Brighton & Hove Albion's ace midfielder Moises Caicedo. Expert transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the Blues' intent in conversation with GIVEMESPORT.
After a disappointing season, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to rebuild the squad. Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton's manager, has come to terms with the impending departure of his star player Caicedo, who he once lauded as 'world-class.' Earlier, De Zerbi had voiced his acceptance saying, "It is right that they [Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo] can leave, to play at a higher level."
While Mac Allister has found a new home at Liverpool, Stamford Bridge may soon be the new destination for the 21-year-old Ecuadorian talent. However, securing Caicedo's services won't come cheap for Chelsea as Brighton have reportedly set a hefty price tag of £100m.
Chelsea is really close to completing personal terms with Moisés Caicedo; this is 95% done, with final details pending.
He has said yes to Chelsea, but there is still no bid yet. Chelsea is very busy with sales to Saudi Arabia.#CFC
(@FabrizioRomano via Youtube) pic.twitter.com/AmTHhvYQS2 — Chelsea Dodgers (@TheBlueDodger) June 23, 2023
For a relatively inexperienced Premier League player, this valuation might appear inflated. Still, considering the deep pockets of Chelsea's owner Todd Boehly, who has already splurged over £600m since his takeover, such a move cannot be outrightly dismissed.
Fabrizio Romano has assured Chelsea fans about the club's advances in Caicedo's deal, remarking, "Chelsea are advancing in negotiations on personal terms. The exchange between Chelsea and Caicedo's camp is very positive." Chelsea's £80 million bid, as reported by the Daily Mail, could kick-start final negotiations.
A hole in Chelsea's midfield was created following the exit of N'Golo Kante and the potential departure of Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City. Caicedo could be the perfect fit to fill this gap and team up with Enzo Fernandez, the club's record-breaking acquisition.
Last season, Caicedo outperformed all Brighton players in terms of tackles and interceptions per game, making him an ideal candidate for Chelsea. Given that Brighton has already accepted Caicedo's departure, the only hurdle left is the final negotiation of a fair price.
Aside from Caicedo, Chelsea is also progressing with the deal to acquire Nicolas Jackson, a striker from Villarreal. These steps are all part of Pochettino's grand plan to reinvigorate Chelsea's lineup and bounce back from their less-than-stellar performance last season.
