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Chelsea frontrunners to land Moises Caicedo but face battle with Brighton over fee
Brighton are demanding a high price for Caicedo but Chelsea are ready to offer players as part of the deal
Chelsea are in pole position in the race for midfielder Moises Caicedo this summer, but face a challenge to negotiate a deal with Brighton.
Caicedo can leave Brighton, but the Premier League club want much more than the £70 million they rejected from Arsenal in January and could be further emboldened by West Ham United’s valuation of Declan Rice.
Chelsea have not allowed Brighton’s high valuation to put them off Caicedo and are at the front of the queue of clubs, including Bayern Munich, who want to sign the player.
But negotiating a deal with Brighton will not be easy, as owner Tony Bloom is understood to value the 21-year-old as high as £120 million.
While there is no prospect of a club paying that much for Caicedo, Chelsea will certainly have to pay well over £80 million to land the Ecuador international or agree to allow a player to move in the opposite direction.
Brighton have already had a bid for Levi Colwill, who spent last season on loan at the Amex Stadium, rejected by Chelsea, who insist the defender will be part of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad next season.
Chelsea would be prepared to allow a number of other players to join Brighton as part of a deal to sign Caicedo, possibly including England international Conor Gallagher.
Despite failing to qualify for Europe, Chelsea believe that Caicedo would be open to a move to Stamford Bridge and that personal terms would not be an issue.
Arsenal bid for Caicedo in January, but are focusing their efforts on a deal to sign Rice from West Ham, while Newcastle United also hold an interest.
But, as reported by Telegraph Sport, Newcastle are exploring a move for Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and are chasing Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.
Tottenham Hotspur have denied making a £50 million joint bid for Maddison and Harvey Barnes, but the London club are interested in both players and would be open to allowing Harry Winks to join Leicester as part of any deal for either or both men.