If you can't beat them, buy them. Perhaps Todd Boehly wishes he had tried to become the new Brighton owner in hindsight. Jokes aside, Chelsea's current plight is summed up by being behind the Seagulls after 17 games despite signing their player of the season, appointing their former manager, taking club legend Bruno Saltor away along with the backroom staff and having former recruitment director Paul Winstanley join too.
It is a testament to Brighton's success that Chelsea, a team that were Champions League winners less than 18 months ago, want to copy their model but on a larger scale. It is also an indictment of the Blues that they have fallen to this point in 2023 already.
The running joke continues as Graham Potter looks for new young players to add to his squad at Stamford Bridge. Of the options discussed in the corridors of Cobham there is a startling amount of Brighton names cropping up. From Robert Sanchez in goal to Leandro Trossard in attack.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola stunned by Chelsea star as Todd Boehly handed new £26.5m transfer conundrum
Adam Webster has been looked at before and Levi Colwill is on loan at the Amex. Alexis Mac Allister demonstrated his skills at the World Cup and is seen as a potential alternative to Enzo Fernandez this month. One of the longer-standing targets is Moises Caicedo though.
The 21-year-old Ecuadorian was a target over the summer for Thomas Tuchel and has also attracted the attention of Liverpool and Manchester United. Having only made his league debut 12 months ago his rise has been remarkable. It was Potter that handed him the chance to impress upon his arrival from Independiente Del Valle and he hasn't looked back since.
Having cost just £4.5m this is the type of signing Chelsea are hopeful of making themselves in the future. But in the short-term, if you can't beat them, buy them. There hasn't been anything official for the Seagulls to deal with though as CEO Paul Barber revealed, "I’m pleased to say we haven’t had any [offers for Caicedo],” he told CBS Sports. “Maybe they [Liverpool] haven’t got my email because I haven’t seen any.”
It was only earlier this year that Potter was asked about a £42m bid for the player only for him to say that for that price a buyer would "probably get his boots" such is the shrewdness of owner Tony Bloom. When that was raised to £100m Potter then responded, "Yeah, well they can try."
Barber was firmer in his stance though, adding “I am not sure £42 million will even include the boots now, maybe just the laces. But joking aside, every player’s value is ultimately determined by the market. Graham’s comments were part in jest but part serious because Moises [Caicedo] has been an exceptional player for us.
“Since he came to the Premier League he has developed all the time. He’s a young man with a great attitude, a fantastic work ethic, and a very nice human being off the pitch. So all those things contribute to the value of a footballer should it come to that moment to sell.”
It is reported that Liverpool had taken steps towards signing the midfielder but these have been rubbished, opening the way for Chelsea if they were set on reuniting Caicedo with his previous boss.
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