Chelsea are poised to make a new bid for Moisés Caicedo after the midfielder missed Brighton’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Mauricio Pochettino is determined to strengthen his midfield before the start of the new season and Chelsea, who are also giving serious consideration to making a move for Leeds’s Tyler Adams, remain optimistic about their chances of agreeing a deal to sign Caicedo.
Brighton have turned down several bids for the Ecuador international, the latest worth up to £80m, and value him at £100m. Chelsea are yet to go near that figure but their position is strengthened by Caicedo’s desire to move to Stamford Bridge. Brighton said that the 21-year-old missed the draw with Vallecano because of a tight hamstring.
The expectation remains that Chelsea will end up signing Caicedo, even if means paying £100m to land their top target. The Stamford Bridge club are light on experience and depth in midfield after losing Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount. Pochettino played a midfield trio of Enzo Fernández, Conor Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka when his new side drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in their final pre-season friendly.
Chelsea, who host Liverpool on Sunday, have considered alternatives to Caicedo. They are interested in Adams and could trigger the USA international’s £20m relegation release clause. Pochettino is an admirer of Paris Saint-Germain’s 29-year-old Argentina international Leandro Paredes, who would offer vital experience, and Chelsea remain in the running for Southampton’s Roméo Lavia. Liverpool are favourites to sign Lavia.
Edson Álvarez is another option for Chelsea but West Ham are closing in on a deal for the Ajax midfielder. West Ham have offered £30m for Álvarez. It is anticipated they will need to pay between £35m and £40m to sign the Mexico international, who has agreed personal terms with the east London club.
West Ham are yet to make a summer signing and could move for the Chelsea striker Armando Broja, after agreeing to sell Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta in a deal worth up to €30m (£26m). Scamacca failed to settle after joining West Ham for £35.5m last summer.
Broja’s future could depend on whether Chelsea, who have already strengthened in attack with the signings of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, sign another forward. Juventus are offering the Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic as part of a deal that would see Romelu Lukaku return to Italy and end his Chelsea nightmare. However, Pochettino is not convinced about adding Vlahovic to his squad.
Chelsea remain in the market for an attacking midfielder and are tracking Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga and Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise. They have been monitoring Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus but Brighton are close to breaking their transfer record by signing the Ghana international for around £35m.
