Brighton & Hove Albion seems to be standing firm in their pursuit to keep hold of Moises Caicedo, the talented midfielder who has attracted interest from Chelsea. The Seagulls are reportedly adamant about demanding a substantial fee of over £100 million for the Ecuadorian star.
Chelsea finds themselves in need of reinforcements in the midfield, particularly after the departure of several key players in that position. N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have recently joined Al-Ittihad and AC Milan respectively, while Mateo Kovacic completed a move to Manchester City, the reigning European Champions.
Adding to the blow, academy graduate Mason Mount made a switch to Manchester United, leaving Chelsea with a significant gap in their midfield lineup.
As a result, Chelsea has set their sights on Moises Caicedo as their primary target for a defensive midfielder who can complement Enzo Fernandez in the upcoming 2023-24 season. However, The Telegraph reports that Brighton has made it clear they will not let Caicedo go easily and will demand a fee exceeding £100 million for his services.
The article suggests that Brighton’s valuation of Caicedo has been influenced by Declan Rice’s impending transfer to Arsenal. The Gunners have reportedly reached a comprehensive agreement with West Ham United for the transfer of Rice, with the deal potentially reaching a staggering £105 million for the English midfielder.
Brighton, considering Caicedo’s younger age compared to Rice, believes they should set a similar asking price for their prized asset.
In the January transfer window, Arsenal had already made two unsuccessful offers for Caicedo, with the highest bid reaching approximately £70 million. Following those failed negotiations, the Ecuadorian international committed his future to Brighton by signing a contract extension until June 2027, with the option of an additional year.
Brighton’s advantage in this situation lies in the fact that Caicedo still has at least four years remaining on his current contract. This puts the Seagulls in a strong negotiating position, knowing that time is on their side when it comes to discussing a potential transfer fee.
Caicedo showcased his importance to Brighton during the previous season, playing a pivotal role in their midfield. His contributions helped the team secure a spot in the Europa League and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Across all competitions in the 2022-23 campaign, Caicedo made 43 appearances, contributing with one goal and one assist.