Chelsea have been long linked with a move for Moises Caicedo, and this saga seems destined to continue as Brighton turn down a second bid.
Chelsea submitted their second bid for Moises Caicedo on Monday which was thought to be in the region of £70million, according to The Athletic.
This offer however is believed to not even come close to the reported £100m that the Seagulls are expected to request.
This comes as the second bid following June’s £60m proposal which was rejected straight away. Due to no agreement even seeming close, Caicedo has flown directly to the USA to join Brighton’s preseason tour.
It is believed that Brighton are open to the idea of Caicedo leaving this summer, provided their asking price is met. They are confident they are in a position to reject any unsatisfactory bids.
Chelsea playing the long game
Despite Brighton naming their price, it appears Chelsea continue to undervalue Caicedo, possibly hoping they will be able to strike a bargain once we are deeper into the window.
This would be a poor negotiation tactic from Chelsea as the longer this deal drags, the less likely it is to come off.
Brighton are in an extremely comfortable position financially, and Caicedo has just signed a new contract in March, giving the Seagulls the upper hand.
The situation is complicated by Brighton’s pursuit of Levi Colwill, with Chelsea unwilling to do a deal, it would be hypocritical for them to expect Brighton to do a deal on Caicedo.
The 21-year-old is believed to be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge however isn’t desperate.