Chelsea have made Moises Caicedo their priority midfield target but convincing Brighton to sell in January will be an uphill task, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Having already brought in six new players this month, including Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid, the Blues remain very active in the transfer market.
After reinforcing their team with a fourth attacking signing in Noni Madueke, Chelsea have reportedly shifted their attention to two other positions; right back and midfielder.
Reece James and N’Golo Kante’s recent injury records obviously play a big part in the club’s reported pursuit of players in these areas.
Unlike James, who likely remains to be the first-choice right-back for the considerable future, however, Chelsea may have to spend big on a starting midfielder to replace Kante, whose contract ends this summer.
At the top of Chelsea’s list is reportedly Graham Potter’s former player, Caicedo.
“We know that Caicedo is a top priority for them [Chelsea],” the Italian journalist said on his YouTube channel.
“But Brighton don’t want to sell the player, so it’s a really difficult one for January.
“Chelsea can try again because they already had contacts, but at the moment Caicedo deal is not easy.”
It is easy to see why Brighton are reluctant to sell Caicedo, who has featured in all but one Premier League match for them this season.
The 21-year-old’s being under contract at AmEx Stadium until 2025 also means Brighton have a significant say in his future.
On the other hand, while Brighton could be more open to listening to offers in the summer, Chelsea desperately need to solve their midfield issues to keep their hope of finishing in the top four alive.
The Chelsea ownership group have proved that they are willing to spend big to get their players, so despite Brighton’s stance, a bid could still be on the cards.
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