Mount’s Chelsea departure prompts HUGE new Caicedo bid

Tom Hancock

• 30 Jun 2023 15:31 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea are ready to substantially up their offer for Brighton star Moises Caicedo, having reached an agreement to sell Mason Mount to Manchester United.

The Blues have already had a £60m bid rejected for the Ecuador midfielder, 21 – who Arsenal tried, and failed, to sign from the Seagulls for £75m in January.

Brighton are said to be demanding £100m for Caicedo, who enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022/23, helping the club secure European qualification for the first time in their history.

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According to the Evening Standard, though, Chelsea are optimistic of securing Caicedo’s signature for around £80m.

After splashing the cash during the first two transfer windows under Todd Boehly’s ownership, the Blues will realistically have to rein in their spending this summer in order to avoid breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules – but they have just sold Kai Havertz to Arsenal for £65m, with Mount set to join Man Utd for an initial £55m.

Meanwhile, the departures of Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy – to Manchester City, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli respectively – have raised a combined £58m, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek set to join AC Milan in a £15m deal.

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Caicedo's career takes flight with the Seagulls

Caicedo was one of the standout performers throughout the whole Premier League last term, truly establishing himself as a vital cog in Brighton’s midfield and going from strength to strength under Roberto De Zerbi.

Signed from Ecuadorian outfit Independiente del Valle in the summer of 2021, he spent the first half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan with Beerschot in Belgium.

But his career has continued on a dramatic upward trajectory since returning to his parent club – who he could leave having made only 53 appearances.