Moises Caicedo looks ever closer to leaving Brighton and Hove Albion after being left out of their 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.
The 21-year-old has been the subject of interest from Chelsea all summer, with Maurizio Pochettino’s side having multiple bids rejected for the midfielder.
Caicedo has made it clear to the Brighton board that he wants to leave the club this summer in order to join the Blues.
In an interview after the game yesterday, Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi said, “I don’t know. If Moisés leaves, we will find another important player. If Moisés stays, I’ll be happy for us. It’s not my problem.
“At Brighton, it’s possible to lose some players; we always move forward”.
What next for Brighton and Caicedo?
It now looks inevitable that Caicedo will be departing The Amex this summer.
The Ecuadorian’s contract doesn’t expire until 2027, but Brighton would be wise to cash in on him whilst his valuation is around £100 million.
The Seagulls only paid £5 million for the midfielder, signing him from Independiente back in 2021 who have a sell-on fee.
Despite this, Brighton would make a hefty profit for someone who has only made 45 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Should they sell him within the next two weeks, it would give the club a decent period to bring in a suitable replacement for Caicedo.
As for Caicedo himself, it is a great opportunity to join Pochettino’s Chelsea who have had a decent pre-season as they aim to reclaim a top-four spot under their new boss.