Chelsea will step up their attempts to sign the Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo and the Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson this week.
Jackson, a 21-year-old striker, has agreed personal terms and Chelsea are considering whether to trigger his £30m release clause. The Senegal international failed a medical at Bournemouth in January and has been tracked by Aston Villa and Everton, but Chelsea’s interest has intensified following recent discussions with the player’s camp.
Securing a deal for Jackson would be straightforward if Chelsea pay his release clause, although they could still look to negotiate a lower fee with Villarreal. Mauricio Pochettino wants to sign a new striker and it remains to be seen if Jackson, who would need time to settle in England, would be expected to become a first choice.
Other ambitious but expensive targets for the club include Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, the Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic and Internazionale’s Lautaro Martínez. Romelu Lukaku wants to return to Inter on loan, but Chelsea would prefer a permanent sale for the £97.5m striker.
Strengthening in midfield is another major priority for Chelsea, who are expected to lose N’Golo Kanté on a free transfer to Al-Ittihad. The sales of Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City and Mason Mount to Manchester United are also likely, while Milan want Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Chelsea are expected to bid for the Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga, who has a £34m release clause, and they are in pole position to sign Caicedo after Arsenal withdrew their interest in the Ecuador midfielder. Negotiations with Brighton over Caicedo will not be easy, though. The Seagulls are believed to want £100m for the 21-year-old.
Having broken the British transfer record when they signed Enzo Fernández for £106.8m in January, Chelsea will look to pay a lower fee. The club would be willing to include players as part of a deal for Caicedo, but they are determined not to let Levi Colwill join Brighton.
The 20-year-old defender spent last season on loan at the Amex and Albion have already failed with an offer to buy him permanently. Chelsea would be more willing to include the England midfielder Conor Gallagher as part of any deal with Caicedo.
Southampton’s Roméo Lavia is another midfield target for Pochettino but the 19-year-old is also wanted by Arsenal, Liverpool and United. Chelsea have also been linked with Inter’s Nicolò Barella, Milan’s Sandro Tonali, and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Manu Koné recently.
