Brighton and Hove Albion have rejected Chelsea’s second bid of £70 million without add-ons for their star midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea submitted the bid last night in writing to Brighton and it has been rejected as the Seagulls are looking at getting over £100 million from the transfer of the Ecuadorian youngster. Brighton also rejected Chelsea’s opening bid for Caicedo in June which was worth £60 million.
Caicedo, who was the subject of transfer drama in January, was denied the chance to leave Brighton as the club repeatedly rejected Arsenal’s offers, including one that amounted to £90 million.
Brighton are currently in the USA for a pre-season tour and Caicedo joined them today after ending his holiday in Ecuador.
Early last week, Caicedo expressed his willingness to leave the club when he told the media that Chelsea is such a big club that he cannot turn down. It is understood that Brighton are ready to let him go if their asking price is met by any club.
With Arsenal opting for Declan Rice, Chelsea are now Caicedo’s main suitor, but the situation is complicated by Brighton’s desire to sign Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, for whom they have already seen a £30 million bid rejected.
Colwill spent last season on loan at Brighton but Chelsea plan to make him a part of Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad for next season.
Caicedo made 37 Premier League appearances last season, predominantly featuring as a defensive midfielder.
The 21-year-old joined The Seagulls from Independiente del Vallen in Ecuador and spent the first half of the 2021-22 season on loan in Belgium with Beerschot, before returning to Brighton in January 2022.
