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Chelsea are closing in on the acquisition of Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo and are hoping to derail Liverpool’s pursuit of Roméo Lavia after submitting a £48 million proposal for the Southampton midfielder.
Caicedo is Mauricio Pochettino’s top target in midfield this summer, and negotiations are reportedly moving forward this week. Brighton have demanded at least £100 million for the Ecuador international, but it is unclear whether Chelsea will commit to that sum. Chelsea has been attempting to negotiate a cheaper sum in order to sign Caicedo in time to face Liverpool on Sunday, and their most recent approach was worth £80 million.
There has yet to be an agreement, and Caicedo is said to be irritated by the lack of movement. The 21-year-old was ruled out of Brighton’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday due to a hamstring injury, and he was absent from training on Monday.
According to sources close to Caicedo, who wants to transfer to Stamford Bridge, his absence from training was not due to injury. Brighton are attempting to bolster their squad by acquiring Ajax offensive midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
Chelsea appears to be on track to sign Caicedo this week
Chelsea has been working hard to improve their midfield depth and experience. They are also in talks with Leeds United for Tyler Adams and increased their interest in Lavia on Wednesday night.
Liverpool have had numerous proposals for Lavia rejected, the most recent for £45 million. On the other hand, Southampton want £50 million for the Belgium international.
Arsenal and Manchester United have also expressed interest in the former Manchester City star. Similarly, Chelsea has been keeping an eye on him all summer. Chelsea attempted to sign Lavia last year and has now put Liverpool under pressure by making an official proposal. They’ve also been connected with Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, although Leicester aren’t interested in selling the midfielder.
They can also refer to Chelsea smashing the British transfer record in January when they paid £106.8 million for Argentina player Enzo Fernández.
Pochettino presently has only two senior midfielders in Fernández and Conor Gallagher, with his other alternatives consisting of players with limited Premier League experience. Chelsea is probably going to loan Cesare Casadei to Leicester.
Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought Chelsea last summer, they have lavishly spent money. There is rising talk that they would spend more money to acquire Caicedo.
Pochettino is also looking for a striker but will not sign Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic. The management is willing to keep Mason Burstow, a teenage striker, in the first-team squad. Burstow stood out throughout preseason.
Bayern Munich is negotiating a loan deal for Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel previously worked with Arrizabalaga at Chelsea, who have added competition in goal by signing Robert Sánchez from Brighton for £25 million.
