Chelsea will turn to rivalling Arsenal for the transfer of Brighton & Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo on deadline day. The Blues will submit a bid once Enzo Fernandez of Benfica joins.
That is according to 90min, which reports the Stamford Bridge hierarchy want to sign both of Caicedo and Fernandez. Chelsea are eager to revamp their engine room before the mid-season market slams shut to give boss Graham Potter fresh ideas to kickstart their season.
Chelsea are closing in on a British transfer record deal for Fernandez worth £115m. But his arrival from Benfica is unlikely to be the end of the west London outfit’s spending. Instead, club chiefs will look to follow the World Cup winner’s transfer up with a move for Caicedo.
Caicedo has attracted interest from Chelsea throughout the January transfer window after impressing with Brighton. The Seagulls are also braced to receive offers from the Stamford Bridge side until the deadline. Amex Stadium chiefs have so far held off the Blues’ intrigue.
But Chelsea are preparing an offer worth in excess of £75m to test Brighton’s resolve with the Seagulls determined to keep Caicedo. The Blues will table a proposal once their deal to sign Fernandez is close to completion. They hope the bid will at least get Brighton to think.
Chelsea are ready to gazump Arsenal in the transfer race for Caicedo of Brighton
Chelsea’s offer threatens to derail Arsenal’s interest in Caicedo’s transfer from Brighton on deadline day. 90min has also reported that the Gunners are preparing a £75m offer for the 21-year-old. The Seagulls have already turned down two bids from the north London team.
Mikel Arteta’s side have made bids of £60m and £65m plus £5m in add-ons for Caicedo’s transfer from Brighton. Yet Amex Stadium chiefs told their Emirates Stadium counterparts that the Ecuador international will not be leaving the south coast despite his request to go.
Caicedo has asked to leave Roberto De Zerbi’s squad after Arsenal formalised their interest in his transfer from Brighton. But the Seagulls do not feel £75m is enough to let him go this month. They are keen to see him support their push for European qualification this season.
Brighton sit in the Europa League positions in sixth in the Premier League table through 19 fixtures. But they are only two points better off than Liverpool in ninth plus Chelsea in 10th spot. Caicedo, who Adam Webster calls incredible, has played in 18 of the Seagulls’ games.
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