Chelsea ‘test waters’ with mega bid for midfielder ahead of potential January move

The Blues are keen to further strengthen this winter despite their massive spending

Updated: July 03, 2023 at 9:30 pm GMT+1

Chelsea have ‘tested the water’ for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, tabling an informal £65m bid for the Ecuadorian midfielder as they look to continue their hefty January spending before the end of the transfer window.

The west Londoners have been the busiest side this January by a long way, splashing out over 150m euros and showing no signs of stopping.

All told so far, the Blues have made five additions already this winter. Young players Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana have arrived from Vasco De Gama and Molde respectively, while they have shelled out to bring Benoit Badiashile in from AS Monaco and hijack Arsenal’s bid for Mykhaylo Mudryk, who was unveiled on Sunday.

Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with team-mate Benoit Badiashile during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Sunday January 15, 2023. 2M8RJDG Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with team-mate Benoit Badiashile during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Sunday January 15, 2023. (Alamy Stock Photo)

Meanwhile, they have added Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid to further enhance their attack, and reports suggest that they are looking to bring in two more new faces before the end of the transfer window with a right-back thought to be on the radar.

And as per CBS Sports, they have also begun to discuss a potential move for Caicedo, who has impressed in his 12-month stint with Brighton and has worked with Graham Potter to good effect before.

The Blues have reportedly ‘tested the water’ around £65m, with the Seagulls set to hold out for £75m this winter, and under no pressure to sell. Earlier in the transfer window, Brighton CEO Paul Barber joked that £42m, the amount of a reported bid from Liverpool last summer, would not even be enough to buy his boots anymore.

London Stadium, London, UK. 21st Aug, 2022. Premier League football West Ham versus Brighton and Hove Albion: Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News 2JR2DNN London Stadium, London, UK. 21st Aug, 2022. Premier League football West Ham versus Brighton and Hove Albion: Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)

“I am not sure £42 million will even include the boots now, maybe just the laces”, he told CBS.

And, having already banked over £80m through the sales of Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma in the last 12 months, and with Leandro Trossard seemingly set to leave and net them even more, they are not likely to compromise on their asking price of the 21-year-old midfielder, who is under contract until 2025, and will have plenty of interest come the summer window too.

It is therefore up to the Blues to decide if they wish to continue to beef up their side with the Ecuador starlet, even at a massive cost.