Roberto De Zerbi Wants Moises Caicedo to Stay at Brighton
Brighton owner Tony Bloom has assured manager Roberto De Zerbi that midfielder Moises Caicedo will not be sold this summer unless Chelsea meets their valuation. The new Chelsea boss, Mauricio Pochettino, is keen to bring Caicedo to Stamford Bridge following the departure of midfielders N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Brighton has already rejected two offers from Chelsea, valuing Caicedo at around £100m. Despite Chelsea’s attempts to negotiate, De Zerbi has been reassured that the 21-year-old will remain part of his squad for the upcoming season. Caicedo played a crucial role in Brighton’s successful campaign last season, helping the team finish sixth in the Premier League and qualify for European competition for the first time.
De Zerbi expressed his satisfaction with Bloom’s decision, stating that it would be challenging to find another player of Caicedo’s caliber if he were to leave. He confirmed that as things stand, Caicedo will be in the starting lineup for the next season.
Chelsea’s interest in Caicedo is driven by their desire to strengthen Pochettino’s squad after a disappointing finish in the Premier League last season. Marc Cucurella, who played with Caicedo at Brighton, believes that his former teammate is eager to make the move to west London. Cucurella described Caicedo as a top player and a good midfielder, suggesting that his addition to Chelsea’s squad would be a significant boost.
Chelsea’s pre-season preparations include a friendly match against Brighton this weekend as they gear up for their Premier League opener against Liverpool on August 13.
In other news, Lazio has joined the race to sign Chelsea outcast Callum Hudson-Odoi, but they will face competition from other Premier League clubs. Additionally, Graeme Souness believes that Chelsea made a mistake by selling Mason Mount to Manchester United.
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[Image: Chelsea FC]
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