Brighton Reject Chelsea’s Multiple Bids for Moises Caicedo

Chelsea have seen multiple bids for Ecuador international Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton, with the club demanding a £100 million transfer fee. The midfielder was absent from Brighton’s 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday due to a hamstring injury he suffered in training, but the club expect him to be in their starting line-up for their Premier League opener against Luton Town on Saturday.

Brighton have told Chelsea that Caicedo will start the new Premier League season with them this weekend, despite the Blues having made multiple offers for the player, including a bid of £80 million last week. However, Brighton’s chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber has said that Caicedo was pulled out of the match against Rayo Vallecano due to a slight hamstring injury he suffered in training.

Barber said: ‘We’re looking forward to Moises starting the season with us, he’s a Brighton player under a long-term contract. He’s probably one of the most exciting young midfield players in the world at the moment and we’re delighted to have him.’

However, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has suggested that Caicedo’s future at the club remains uncertain, saying: ‘If Moises leaves, we will find another important player. And if Moises stays, I will be happy for us, for the team, for the club. But it’s not my problem now, if Moises leaves, we will bring another player in. We are Brighton, and under our policy there is the possibility to lose some players at the end of the season. It was the same for [Alexis] Mac Allister and [Levi] Colwill.’

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will be able to agree a deal with Brighton for Caicedo before the end of the transfer window, but it appears that they will have to pay the asking price if they want to sign him this summer.

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