Since his £4.25billion takeover of Chelsea, Todd Boehly has become well accustomed to Brighton & Hove Albion and their hidden gems. Nearly £100million has been spent on prizing the Seagulls' prize assets to Stamford Bridge, yet Brighton remain above Chelsea in the Premier League table.
Graham Potter's terrific start to the campaign at the Amex Stadium convinced Boehly to pay a record £22million to lure the English manager to west London. Under Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton have continued their remarkable campaign and remain in with a shout of bringing European football to the club for the first time since their promotion to the Premier League.
When Potter's services were acquired, many would have thought Brighton would slowly slip down the table. After all, it wasn't just their head coach that was snatched by Chelsea. Last season's player of the season Marc Cucurella was purchased for £62million on a six-year deal and former recruitment director Paul Winstanley joined in Boehly's overhaul of the team behind-the-scenes.
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Now, in the January transfer window, Ecuador star Moises Caicedo has been shortlisted as an alternative to Enzo Fernandez in Boehly's attempt to bolster Potter's midfield options. The 21-year-old has attracted the attention of Liverpool and Manchester United with his performances down south but a reunion with his former coach has always been tipped after Potter purchased him from Independiente Del Valle.
Recently, Brighton CEO Paul Barber joked that £42million would only pay for Caicedo's laces amid intensified links with a move away. Reports this month have claimed that Brighton would seek around £65million for the midfielder at the end of the season, an enormous profit from the £4.5million fee paid for him in 2021.
The fee is close to half of what will be required to acquire Fernandez from Benfica, leaving Boehly with a key decision to make. Should the U.S billionaire take the plunge, Barber has already hinted of his willingness to negotiate after the smooth process beforehand. "Todd's a very successful businessman and you don't get to be a very successful businessman unless you are also a smart person," Barber told CBS Sports.
"He is certainly not a pushover in negotiations, far from it, and he's a very professional individual. He's got high integrity and we have enjoyed the dealings we've had with Todd. We wish him nothing but good fortune.
"It's also not easy to come in from the other side of the world and buy a football club which is already successful and make it even more successful. That doesn't happen overnight, it requires a lot of skill, patience and hard work as well as a bit of luck along the way.
"Expectations on a club like Chelsea are always going to be high, so when their new owners have got such big ambitions, in many ways that just adds profile and pressure. Todd and his group have spent a lot of money in buying the club and in improving the squad. It does take a while for all of the things they are trying to bring together to have the effect they are hoping for.
"It's a long-term project and football is not easy, there are no short-term fixes. Of course, you can you can make changes and amendments quickly, but the results they bring can sometimes take longer. So it still remains to be seen where Chelsea go, and good luck to them."
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