According to a report from Sky Sport, Brighton have turned down a second, higher bid from Chelsea for midfielder Moises Caicedo, which amounted to £80 million. Just a week ago, the Seagulls had already rejected a £70 million offer from Chelsea for the talented player, as they believe his value lies in the region of £100 million.
Caicedo’s Impressive Performances In English Football Last Season
Moises Caicedo displayed his immense talent while playing in Roberto De Zerbi’s midfield at the American Express Community Stadium. The 21-year-old Ecuadorian featured in 43 matches for Brighton last season, contributing with one goal and one assist across various competitions. Caicedo proved to be a solid defensive presence in the heart of the midfield, showing consistency and reliability.
In the Premier League, he averaged 2.7 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, and 0.8 shots per 90 minutes, highlighting his defensive contributions. Additionally, Caicedo showcased his creativity by providing 1.2 key passes and 0.8 successful dribbles per 90 minutes. His precision in passing was also commendable, boasting an impressive pass success rate of 88.8% in the English top flight, according to statistics from Whoscored.
Should Chelsea Boss Mauricio Pochettino Stop His Pursuit Of Caicedo?
Caicedo is renowned for his defensive midfield abilities, showcasing strong tackling, passing, and dribbling skills. Moreover, he displays versatility, being able to play a box-to-box role as well.
With the departures of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante, Chelsea needs a defensive midfielder. Caicedo would be an excellent match for the Blues, offering a robust presence in midfield and bolstering their defensive efforts.
However, Brighton’s reported high asking price for Caicedo may present a challenge for Chelsea. The Blues might be hesitant to pay such a hefty fee, especially if they are considering signing other players in the summer transfer window. The need for a defensive midfielder has become pressing for Chelsea due to the departures of Loftus-Cheek and Kante.
While players like Enzo Fernandez lean towards a more attacking style, adding a defensive holding midfielder like Caicedo would provide greater solidity and tenacity to Pochettino’s midfield department. Nonetheless, the significant obstacle in Chelsea’s pursuit of Caicedo lies in Brighton’s valuation. Unless the asking price is lowered, it might be difficult for the Blues to make substantial progress in securing his services. Hence, the West London club should move in for other alternatives in the transfer market.
