Chelsea Transfer News: Caicedo completes record signing with Lavia and Olise to follow

Suraj Radia

Updated: 15 Aug 2023 06:11 BST
4 min read

Moises Caicedo, Brighton, Chelsea — © ProShots

Chelsea have finally completed the signing of Moises Caicedo from Brighton for a British transfer record fee of £115 million.

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The Blues had been chasing Caicedo all summer but had failed to meet Brighton’s £100m asking price, seeing bids of £80m rejected by the Seagulls.

However, Liverpool made an approach for Caicedo and submitted a bid worth £110m for the 21-year-old, prompting Chelsea to better the offer in order to get their man.

Caicedo was holding out for a move to Chelsea, having agreed personal terms with Mauricio Pochettino’s side in June, and the Ecuadorian finally got his wish by signing an eight-year deal, with the option of a ninth.

Chelsea will pay an initial £100m, with £15m in add-ons and a ‘significant’ sell-on clause for Brighton, breaking the record amount spent on Enzo Fernandez in January.

Lavia turns down Liverpool for Chelsea

Having already seen Caicedo reject Liverpool to join the Blues, Romeo Lavia followed suit by agreeing to join Chelsea from Southampton despite having struck a deal with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Lavia had been a top target for Klopp but they initially fell short of Southampton’s £50m valuation for the 19-year-old, allowing Chelsea the time to make their move.

Liverpool eventually agreed a deal worth £60m to Southampton but the player informed the Reds that he preferred to sign for Chelsea in a bitter blow for Klopp.

Chelsea are now expected to agree a deal worth £50m plus add-ons for Lavia, with a deal set to be concluded this week.

© ProShots - Romeo Lavia has turned down Liverpool to join Chelsea

Lukaku ‘close’ to Chelsea exit

The good news keeps piling in for Chelsea after reports that Romelu Lukaku could finally agree a permanent transfer away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

Lukaku had initially been expected to join Inter but he held talks with rivals Juventus, prompting club legend Javier Zanetti to accuse the Belgian of ‘betrayal’.

Juve had been in negotiations with Chelsea over a swap deal with Dusan Vlahovic but a deal eventually fell through and negotiations appeared to be over.

However, reports in Italy claim that Juve have since raised enough money to sign Lukaku irrespective of Vlahovic's future and a transfer could be underway despite the protests of the Serie A club’s ultras over the 30-year-old’s arrival.

Olise personal terms agreed

The incomings aren’t stopping at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea reportedly agreeing personal terms to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.

Olise spent some time in the academy at Chelsea as a youngster and the Blues are keen to bring him back to West London, with negotiations likely over a £45m deal for the 21-year-old.

© ProShots - Michael Olise is wanted by Chelsea

Brazilian youngster set to sign this week

Another arrival for Chelsea this week will be Santos youngster Deivid Washington, who will fly into London for a medical tonight after the Blues agreed a £13.8m deal for the teenager.

Washington is expected to pen a deal until 2030 before heading out on loan, likely to Chelsea’s Ligue 1 affiliate Strasbourg.