Chelsea are reportedly set to submit an improved bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, who is Mauricio Pochettino’s ‘No.1 target’ this summer.
Caicedo was one of the breakout stars during the 2022/23 campaign as he shone for Brighton, who ended up finishing sixth in the Premier League.
After the midfielder impressed for Ecuador at the World Cup in Qatar, he was targeted by Arsenal in January.
The Gunners had a couple of bids rejected for the talented youngster before they ended up signing Jorginho from Chelsea as a cheaper alternative.
In recent months, Arsenal switched their attention to Declan Rice and the England international’s £105m move to the Emirates has now been completed.
This has enabled Chelsea to move to the front of the queue for Caicedo, who has reportedly already ‘agreed personal terms’ ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge.
New boss Pochettino is reportedly eyeing Caicedo as an ideal midfield partner for record-signing Enzo Fernandez, but Brighton are demanding a huge fee for their prized asset.
The Evening Standard are reporting that ‘Chelsea will this week make an improved £70million-plus offer for Caicedo’.
The player is ‘hoping that the next bid will convince Brighton to accept his dream move’. He is Chelsea’s ‘No.1 midfield target’ but they are ‘concerned Brighton will dismiss this improved offer after turning down a similar sum from Arsenal during the January transfer window’.
The report claims Brighton are ‘holding out for £100m’ for Caicedo after Rice’s switch to Arsenal offering them a potential ‘benchmark’.
READ MORE: Man Utd top ranking of Premier League 23/24 home kits as Chelsea absolutely f*** it
Earlier this week, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed that Caicedo is “really unhappy” that an agreement between Chelsea and Brighton “isn’t in place yet”.
“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.”
“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.”
READ MORE: Arsenal top as we rank Premier League clubs on taking care of transfer business