Chelsea are seeking to sign Moises Caicedo as Mauricio Pochettino prepares to start his new job.
Chelsea are apparently planning three deals and are ‘progressing’ with a deal for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo. The Blues are frantically trying to trim their squad ahead of the arrival of new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, and Caicedo is apparently one of a few potential signings.
Caicedo’s performance for the Seagulls last season piqued the interest of Europe’s top clubs. Chelsea will be challenged by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.
However, talks between Chelsea and Brighton are said to be ‘progressing well,’ with co-owner Todd Boehly apparently haggling down the Seagulls’ £80 million asking price. Arsenal’s original offer of roughly £70 million was turned down in January.
Chelsea hopes to finalize three transactions in the next weeks, including one for Caicedo. Cesar Azpilicueta and Kalidou Koulibaly are reportedly expected to go.
According to Fabrizio Romano’s Caught Offside blog, Azpilicueta is awaiting approval from the Chelsea administration to join Inter Milan. The long-serving Spaniard hopes to get the last year of his contract with the Blues canceled to allow for a free transfer switch.
Koulibaly might follow the club captain out of Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have agreed a £21 million deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal to let last summer’s transfer flop leave.
Koulibaly was a big-money £33 million signing from Napoli last summer, but he only appeared in 32 games across all competitions, making a few high-profile gaffes along the way. After only a year, the Senegal international will go.
Chelsea are hoping that Pochettino’s arrival marks the beginning of a new era. Boehly’s new head coach cannot begin his new post until July 1.
Caicedo is one of a few new additions Chelsea aim to add to Pochettino’s squad, according to Romano. However, the pace of additions is not projected to surpass the heights seen in 2022-23, when the club’s Cobham training base received a total of 16 stars.
Pochettino will take over a squad that is overburdened, and he will prioritize the removal of deadwood. Last season, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard both complained that the sheer bulk of the squad hampered their work on the training ground.
Manchester United were said to have dropped their pursuit of Mason Mount after the Blues rejected a £55 million bid for the playmaker on Sunday. The Red Devils’ bid is reportedly still on hold.
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