Moises Caicedo is “really unhappy” that an agreement between Chelsea and Brighton “isn’t in place yet” with the midfielder insisting £68m is a fair price for him, according to Ben Jacobs.
The Blues have been on the trail of the Ecuador international for some time now after his brilliant 2022/23 season for Brighton in the Premier League.
Arsenal made bids for Caicedo in January, while Liverpool have also been credited with interest, but it now seems that Chelsea are the most likely to seal a deal this summer.
Caicedo signed a new long-term deal with Brighton once the January transfer window closed with the assumption that he will be allowed to leave for a fair price this summer.
And former CBS Sports journalist Jacobs insists Caicedo has become “unhappy” at his situation with the Ecuadorian annoyed that a deal “isn’t in place” over a potential move to Chelsea.
Jacobs wrote on Twitter: “Moises Caicedo is really unhappy an agreement for a move to Chelsea isn’t in place yet. He returns to Brighton with progress expected this week. #CFC yet to table another formal bid but they are looking around £70m plus add-ons. As revealed, this has always been the ballpark.
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“Still understand £70+10m is possible, although sources close to both #CFC and Caicedo insist Aurélien Tchouaméni’s Real Madrid fee (£68m) is more than fair for a guaranteed fee.
“Caicedo has agreed personal terms with Chelsea. But Brighton have NOT offered Chelsea a specific price to date even though they are resigned to losing Caicedo this summer.
“It is still not thought Caicedo will sell for £100m or more despite Brighton sources hinting (although not directly to Chelsea) that’s the number. Those close to Caicedo dismiss any comparisons with the Declan Rice package.
“Using the Rice sale price is seen by some sources as a tactic, and one that’s been easy to do with Caicedo away. Understand Caicedo will now make it clear to Brighton that number is too high and will put pressure on a move if he has to.”
And transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also brought an update on Caicedo and Chelsea’s attempts to sell Romelu Lukaku this summer.
Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “To reiterate what I previously reported: Chelsea don’t want Romelu Lukaku to stay, they want to move on and get €40m for him. I’ve been asked by some fans if things could change, but at the moment there is nothing else. Lukaku also wants to leave and try a new chapter.
“What could happen in the future I don’t know, of course, but as of today, it’s 100% over between Chelsea and Lukaku. Also, Lukaku could only join Juventus if Dusan Vlahovic leaves, otherwise it’s impossible.
“We are entering into a really important week for Moises Caicedo. I know some of you will have been expecting something more to have happened by now, but my latest understanding is that Chelsea are now preparing to improve their proposal for Caicedo – it’s still a verbal conversation, there’s not an official bid, but Chelsea are prepared to go for a bid of more than £70m plus add-ons.
“It’s not easy to negotiate with Brighton, but Chelsea will improve their proposal in this verbal discussion with Brighton. The conversation is ongoing every single day.”