Chelsea DECISIVE after JAW-DROPPING quote for priority target

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 7 Jul 2023 07:13 BST
• 2 min read

Chelsea are ready to play hardball with Brighton over the transfer of Moises Caicedo after being given an extravagant quote from the Seagulls over a fee for the Ecuador international.

A leading target for the Premier League big guns since the January transfer window, Brighton showed a capacity to resist offers from major clubs as both the Blues and Arsenal were rebuffed during that period.

It was thought, however, that Caicedo, who signed a new deal at that time but has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, had been promised a summer exit for a reasonable fee but while the 21-year-old may yet depart the AmEx Stadium, Brighton have shown they are not about to be bullied into selling cheap.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal striker Balogun opens Chelsea transfer talks

Brighton set £100m price for Caicedo

Indeed, according to a report in the Guardian, the Seagulls have set their asking price for the central midfielder to £100 million.

Having seen Alexis Mac Allister sold relatively cheap to Liverpool, who triggered a release clause in the World Cup winner’s deal, it appears they are eager to leverage as much money as possible from big-spending Chelsea, who appear to have made Caicedo their absolute priority in the midfield this summer.

MORE: Chelsea alerted as wonderkid faces uncertain future

The Blues, who already signed Marc Cucurella from the south coast club last summer for £63m, are not about to bow to Brighton’s demands and “intend to hold firm” to their valuation of the player, which is around the £80m mark.

Brighton, though, are pointing to Arsenal’s move for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, who will complete a transfer of £105m to the Emirates.

Chelsea, meanwhile, also have history of spending big money since the takeover of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital last year, notably splashing out big on Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez in the January transfer window. The move for Cucurella was also a record for a player in his position.

Fabrizio Romano announced on Wednesday that negotiations between Chelsea and Brighton over Caicedo are concrete and still ongoing.