Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo has admitted that he is enjoying being linked with a transfer amid interest from Chelsea and Man Utd.
The Ecuador international has made the headlines a lot over the past year as he was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal during the January transfer window.
The Gunners had a couple of bids rejected for the midfielder before they ended up signing Jorginho as a cheaper alternative. The Londoners have since turned their attention to Declan Rice, who is set to cost them an initial £100m.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Brighton are following in West Ham’s footsteps as they are demanding ‘more than £100m’ for Caicedo.
The 21-year-old is considered one of the best young players in the Premier League and he is being heavily linked with Chelsea and Man Utd.
New Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino is understood to view Caicedo as a player who could perform well alongside Enzo Fernandez.
Caicedo has now suggested that he “knows how to handle it” when he finds himself being linked with a major transfer.
“It’s a very great emotion,” Caicedo told Maria Jose Flores. “What guy wouldn’t want them to be talking about him?”
“I know how to handle it. I don’t get carried away by emotions. I’m enjoying time with my family for now. There is pressure, but I am calm. I am waiting for whatever God decides. He will know what is best for me.”
Despite this admission, former Blues player Florent Malouda reckons Chelsea’s “first priority” should be to “look at the goalkeeper position”.
“Looking at the previous season, l really think that Chelsea’s first priority is to look at the goalkeeper position. I think that has been an area where there has been instability for a while. Kepa and Mendy were competing for the shirt, but neither of them have performed at their best level with full confidence. Chelsea needs to find the right person to build the confidence from the back,” Malouda told Genting Casino.
“Chelsea also needs to strengthen in the central defence after selling Koulibaly. Pochettino needs options back there and players that he can believe in.
“Enzo Fernandes is a great player, but for him to be at his best, he needs players that can support him, especially if we’re losing Kovačić and Kante. I really think the spine of the team needs to be strengthened. The fundamental for any good team is having that spine and it all starts from being solid at the back.
“Looking further up the pitch, the signing of Nkunku is a good one, but there is a lot of uncertainty about the futures of Chelsea’s other strikers. Those players will need to be replaced and at the moment the manager doesn’t know who he will have in his squad to start preseason.”
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