Brighton & Hove Albion is reportedly demanding a fee exceeding £100 million for Moises Caicedo in the aftermath of Declan Rice’s imminent £105 million transfer to Arsenal. The Seagulls have elevated their valuation of the talented midfielder, as reported by The Telegraph, in light of the impending benchmark set by Rice’s move. Caicedo remains a target for Chelsea as they undergo a rebuilding phase under Mauricio Pochettino, but securing his services would require a substantial financial commitment.
Brighton considers Caicedo to be on par with Rice and will only entertain offers that meet their lofty demands. In January, Arsenal made two unsuccessful bids for Caicedo, with the second offer reportedly reaching £70 million. Since then, the 21-year-old Ecuadorian has signed a contract extension with Brighton, prolonging his stay until 2027 with a one-year option.
Chelsea’s interest in Caicedo aligns with their ambition to strengthen their midfield options, particularly with the departure of key players like N’Golo Kanté, Mateo Kovacic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Caicedo is seen as a suitable complement to Enzo Fernández, whom Chelsea signed from Benfica for a record-breaking fee of £106 million in January.
As the transfer saga unfolds, Brighton & Hove Albion stands firm on their valuation of Moises Caicedo, ready to entertain substantial offers. The coming weeks will reveal whether Chelsea is willing to meet Brighton’s demands and secure the services of the highly-rated midfielder in another potentially high-profile transfer.