Chelsea’s hopes of signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton this summer have ‘reached an impasse’, according to new reports, in a blow to the Blues.
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The Ecuador international is Chelsea’s top midfield target for the summer window but their latest offer of £70m was rejected by Brighton.
Chelsea are preparing a new bid of £80m plus add-ons but the Seagulls are adamant that Caicedo will not be sold for less than £100m – unless the Blues are willing to let Levi Colwill move in the other direction as part of a swap deal.
But Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino is unwilling to lose Colwill and feels the youngster will become one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.
The situation means Chelsea’s hopes of signing Caicedo have taken a hit with neither side budging on their current stance, according to the Guardian.
Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi is keen to bring Colwill back to the south coast after he spent last season on loan with the Seagulls.
Speaking over the weekend as Brighton lost 4-3 to Chelsea in a pre-season friendly, De Zerbi said: ‘There are two questions. Not only about Caicedo, also about Colwill, and maybe it can be [a swap].’
Pochettino, meanwhile, is keen to welcome Caicedo, 21, to Stamford Bridge following the departure of midfielders N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Caicedo was one of Brighton’s most important players last season and helped them finish sixth in the Premier League, qualifying for Europe for the first time.
He almost moved to Arsenal before making a U-turn towards Chelsea and had even agreed personal terms with the Gunners, who ended up brining in Declan Rice for £105m instead.
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