Moises Caicedo to Chelsea: What we know, Chelsea offer update and Brighton stance

The Blues were reported to have seen a £55m offer for the Ecuador international rejected by Albion last week.

The south coast club said the central midfielder was not for sale this month, claiming the offer was much lower then their valuation of the player.

Chelsea are now considering an improved second bid, as they look to revamp their ageing midfield department in this transfer window.

Asked about Caicedo’s future, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi said: “I think Caicedo is very important for us, it's difficult to change with another player now, inside of the season.

"I hope he finishes the season with us but in the transfer market it is always difficult to give one answer. When there are some big teams who want our player it is good news for us. The best solution is he can finish the season with us and in the summer, for him it is better to change team.

“If Caicedo continues to play like this, like the last games it is possible he can leave for another team.”

Caicedo joined Brighton in 2019, signing for Graham Potter’s team from Independiente del Valle for £5 million and has two-and-a-half years left on his current deal.

He has gone on to make 26 appearances for the club since making his debut against Arsenal in April 2022, becoming a key figure in an impressive Brighton team that is currently sixth in the Premier League.

Potter – now head coach at Chelsea – is keen to work with the young midfielder again and his current employees have identified the young midfielder as a replacement to Ngolo Kante, who has missed the majority of this season with a long-term hamstring injury.

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Despite spending £400 million on 14 new players since the start of the season, the Blues have struggled under Todd Boehly’s new ownership.

The club are currently 10th in the league, 10 points off fourth place with two wins in their last 11 games and out of both domestic cup competitions.

Chelsea have already made the additions of Datro Fofana, Andre Santos, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke during the January window.

But with Kante’s injury problems seemingly increasing with age and the out-of-form Jorginho’s contract running out in June, the club are keen to announce more signings to bolster their midfield before the window shuts at 11pm on January 31.