Chelsea have done just about all they could possibly have hoped for this month already in the transfer market. It's been one of the best windows ever recorded, not to mention expensive.
They've signed a striker for £10million that they hope will be a genuine option for the future, a new centre-back has been recruited and shown great signs of quality already, a new centre forward has joined with flexibility over a permanent move later on, one of the brightest young midfielders is ripping it up in South America after a transfer and also purchased two exciting wingers with a good tactical and technical profile.
A new right-back for the future has agreed a deal to join and will be loaned back out before coming back over the summer to work with his new side whilst Germany's highest goal contributor over the past two years is expected to become a Blue after the end of the season too.
READ MORE: What Moises Caicedo bid from Arsenal means for Chelsea transfer of Declan Rice after £60m offer
Plenty has been done, more than could have been imagined this time last year. The starting XI for the first game of the 2023/24 season could feature nine new names. It may even be an entirely different set of players to the one that beat Everton at Goodison Park in August.
One area that hasn't been addressed fully is midfield though. Despite it arguably being the most pressing area of the field to look at due to the expiring contracts of N'Golo Kante and Jorginho plus fitness concerns for Mateo Kovacic, Chelsea have so far failed to sign a permanent senior player in that position.
Andrey Santos is well rated but just 18 and not a first team choice just yet. Moises Caicedo is an option they like a lot and have lodged a £55million bid for. However, Brighton's valuation of over £75million is off-putting, especially with the summer market more likely to bring rewards.
The Ecuadorian is now a target for Arsenal and could leave Chelsea partially stranded for the rest of the season. Perhaps the fact that a first choice target hasn't be attainable - despite the best efforts in pursuing Enzo Fernandez - is why a new right-back was looked at first, with a deal for Malo Gusto now agreed - though he will not join the club until the summer.
In this sense it has been important for Chelsea not to get dragged into the short-term nature of the January window and keeping looking at players that fit their checklist. Here, football.london has picked out three players that could be looked at as an alternative to Moises Caicedo.
Youri Tielemans
Another overlap with Arsenal's own target, Tielemans is out of contract at the end of the season andcan therefore be snapped up for free. The Belgian has a wealth of Premier League experience, can play in a double-pivot or as a box-to-box role too.
At 25 he isn't too old to be seen as having his peak years in front of him but can also add immediate quality and depth to the squad. Although it may be a challenge to stave off Arsenal - who appeared to have turned his head over the summer - Tielemans is almost a no-brainer.
Amadou Haidara
Brighton themselves are looking at Haidara as a replacement for Caicedo. Should he either not leave the south coast or get snapped up elsewhere, Haidara is only a logical alternative.
The Mali international is one that will be well known to Christopher Vivell due to his work with the Red Bull group and Haidara's profile one that is very similar to Caicedo. At 24-years-old and with a modest price tag, he is certainly a cheaper alternative to look out for.
Declan Rice
It's a little too obvious, especially as Rice may well be ahead of Caicedo in the Chelsea pecking order anyway, but if there's no progress made ahead of the summer then it is only logical to push for Rice once again.
As one of the best in the world in his positon he will be more expensive than Haidara but also offers knowledge of the league and the valuable intangible leadership qualities he brings to sides.
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