Chelsea are set to increase their previous £60 million bid for Moises Caicedo to over £70 million later this week.
The 21-year-old midfielder has already agreed to personal terms with Chelsea and is hopeful that this improved offer will convince Brighton to allow him to make his dream move.
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Previously, Chelsea had a £60 million bid rejected for Caicedo, and there are concerns that Brighton may also turn down this higher offer.
This is especially after rejecting a similar sum from Arsenal during the January transfer window.
Brighton is holding out for £100 million, using the benchmark of the fee Arsenal paid for Declan Rice.
Despite the potential obstacles, Caicedo has expressed his strong desire to join Chelsea, describing them as a big, historic, and beautiful team.
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, have been in contact with Brighton officials, keeping Chelsea’s new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, informed of the developments.
Pochettino has expressed his eagerness to finalize his squad before the pre-season tour of the United States, as Chelsea has recently sold several midfield players.
The departed players included N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, raising over £230 million in the process.
This player exodus opens up space for another midfielder to join the team, with Chelsea considering bids for Gabri Veiga from Celta Vigo and Romeo Lavia from Southampton later in the transfer window.
Pochettino is also open to signing another striker, and Chelsea’s sporting directors have been exploring the market for options.
However, they plan to give opportunities to new signings Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, as well as Armando Broja, who has recovered from a serious knee injury sustained in December, during the pre-season.
Chelsea’s upcoming warm-up matches against Wrexham, Brighton, Fulham, Newcastle, and Borussia Dortmund will help determine if a fourth striking option is needed for the season.
This is specially so since the team is not participating in European football.
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Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku will not join Chelsea’s travelling squad and is expected to return to Cobham on Tuesday.
Negotiations between Lukaku and Juventus caused Inter Milan to walk away from talks in frustration last weekend.
