Chelsea will ‘certainly try’ to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo should he become available next year, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
The Lowdown: Four-horse race
The Mirror have recently claimed that the Seagulls would be willing to part with the 21-year-old should the right offer arrive, with an £85m valuation placed on his head.
Premier League trio Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle have all been credited with an interest in the Ecuadorian alongside the Blues, with Graham Potter hoping that the Ecuadorian will follow in his footsteps to swap the Amex Stadium for Stamford Bridge.
The Latest: Phillips’ comments
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips suggested that Potter’s connection to Brighton could help to get a deal for Caicedo, who has been identified as a primary midfield target, over the line.
The journalist said: He’s clearly been an important player during his time at Brighton. So, he’s a player that, if he becomes available, or Chelsea feel that they can do a deal for him in January, or in the summer, then they’ll certainly try for him.
“He’s clearly rated highly by Potter, and he’s quite high up on the list of potential midfield targets with Chelsea.”
The Verdict: No-brainer
Whilst Caicedo might not get the recognition that he deserves due to his shortage of goals and assists, he has been dubbed a ‘machine man’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and specialises his game in the more defensive areas of a footballer's repertoire.
The Ecuador international averages 2.8 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.2 key passes per game and has an outstanding 87.3% pass success rate (WhoScored).
His tackling average exceeds every player currently at Chelsea, while only four players at Stamford Bridge play more key passes per game than the 21-year-old (WhoScored).
Todd Boehly isn’t shy of spending big to land his targets, with the Blues having the highest outlay of any Premier League club last summer, and Caicedo is a player well worth splashing the cash on should the opportunity arise in 2023.