Chelsea are preparing an improved bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo worth £80m plus add-ons.
Chelsea saw an offer in the region of £70m turned down by the Seagulls last week and are working on a new proposal for the Ecuador international.
Brighton are seeking an offer in comparison to Declan Rice’s £105m move from West Ham to Arsenal, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side valuing Caicedo at a similar level to the England midfielder.
Caicedo has made clear his desire to complete a move to Chelsea and has spoken publicly on a potential move. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, though the two teams remain apart in their valuation of the 21-year-old.
The Daily Mail are reporting that Brighton had assured Caicedo he could move on this summer for a fee of around £70m after rejecting an offers for the midfielder in January, but Rice’s record move to Arsenal has prompted a rethink at the Amex Stadium.
Chelsea are desperate to conclude a deal for Caicedo after an exodus in midfield this summer, with Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek having all departed Stamford Bridge.
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