Chelsea are closing in on Moises Caicedo and hope to sign the midfielder before Sunday’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge according to reports. The Blues have reportedly managed a breakthrough in talks focused on the structure of a deal, one which will cost them £100million.
The Blues have had three bids rejected for the Ecuadorian already this summer. The latest was of £80m with the Seagulls standing firm on their valuation of the player, who Arsenal wanted to sign in January.
Caicedo would like to make the move to Stamford Bridge despite signing a new contract at Brighton in March. And the Independent say Chelsea are making progress towards a deal but that they must pay a guaranteed £90m with £10m in add-ons to get it over the line.
The Londoners have not wanted to pay over £80m but they are close to an agreement with Brighton over how the transfer fee would be structured. It is claimed that an offer of £90m-plus will need to be submitted to get the south coast club to do business, after Arsenal bought Declan Rice from West Ham for £105m.
And Chelsea are apparently hopeful they can sign Caicedo in the next 72 hours before they take on Liverpool. That would allow him to be integrated into Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the second match of the season away at West Ham on Sunday 20 August.
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Roberto de Zerbi said late last month that he was planning to keep Caicedo in his squad for this season. But Brighton have nonetheless remained engaged in dialogue with the Blues over a deal to let the 21-year-old leave the Amex Stadium.
And Pochettino is set to finally get his top target after weeks of frustration in their attempts to secure an agreement. Caicedo missed Brighton’s friendly with Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and then was not in training the following day but due to injury rather than the uncertainty over his future.
The Athletic also report that Chelsea have tabled a £48m bid for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia who has been the subject of three rejected approaches from Liverpool. Pochettino’s side are said to have tabled the offer on Wednesday night.
The Saints want £50m for the Belgian teenager and it remains to be seen if the offer is enough for them to let Lavia leave. Buying the 19-year-old would land a significant blow on top-four rivals Liverpool who are a midfielder or two short on the eve of the new campaign.
Leeds’ Tyler Adams was also touted as a target but it does not appear Chelsea will look to sign the American in addition to Caicedo and Lavia despite a raft of outgoings this summer. However, as it stands, Pochettino’s only two senior midfielders are Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher, who may also leave Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks.