Chelsea have reportedly run into a snag in their efforts to sign Moise Caicedo, with Brighton & Hove Albion maintaining a resolute stance on the matter.
21-year-old Caicedo has gotten the attention of a few Premier League suitors after performing impressively under both Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi last season with the Seagulls wrapping up at sixth in the English top flight under the latter.
This resulted in them achieving their highest placement in the club’s history, earning a spot in next season’s Europa League, with Caicedo having played in all except for one of Brighton’s Premier League matches last term. He was a regular starter in 34 of those clashes, providing two goal contributions from a deep-lying midfield position.
Chelsea apparently face a massive task in bringing Caicedo to Stamford Bridge, as Brighton are unwilling to sell the Colombian unless Levi Colwill goes the other way, according to The Guardian. The West Londoners are said to have tabled a bid worth £70m for the Seagulls midfielder earlier this month but the bid was swiftly rejected by the South Coast club.
The Blues are now said to be preparing an improved offer of £80m although it is believed that the Brighton valuation of the 21-year-old is £100m.
Chelsea have reportedly been told that they have a better chance of securing Caicedo if they are willing to part ways with Colwill, however the Blues see the defender as someone who is of long-term importance to the club.
The 20-year-old spent last season on loan on the South Coast, playing 17 Premier League matches as Brighton clinched a top-six finish for the first time in their history.
Pochettino is understood to be increasingly aware of the role Colwill may have in his first team this term following the departure of Kalidou Koulibaly, further compounded by the serious leg injury suffered by Wesley Fofana.
The centerback’s priority is clearly to secure regular game time in the 2023-24 campaign and is supposedly eyeing up a place in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the European Championships in Germany next summer.