Reports suggest that Chelsea are interested in signing Moises Caicedo, despite the midfielder recently signing a contract extension with Brighton. Manchester United and Liverpool are also said to be keen on the Ecuador international. Arsenal had two bids for Caicedo rejected in the final days of the January transfer window, with Brighton refusing to sell after losing Leandro Trossard to the Gunners. However, the Seagulls’ decision to extend Caicedo’s contract until 2027 with an option for a further year has not deterred the Premier League trio from pursuing him in the summer transfer window. The player’s agent has previously stated that the midfielder was denied the “dream of his whole life” after Brighton refused to let him move to Arsenal.
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi hailed Caicedo’s contract extension as “fantastic news” for the club, its fans, and the player himself. The 21-year-old joined Brighton in 2021 from Independiente del Valle and has made 36 appearances for the south coast club. Brighton are currently enjoying a successful season in the Premier League and are in contention to qualify for European football next term.
The cost of signing Caicedo is expected to be well above £70m, which is what Arsenal offered in January and was turned down by Brighton. The Telegraph reports that all three Premier League clubs interested in Caicedo are willing to pay this price.
The summer transfer window is expected to open in June, although the exact date has yet to be confirmed. Clubs can still sign players after the deadline, but only if they are free agents or have been released by their previous club.
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