Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi reportedly blocked an exit for Chelsea target Moises Caicedo in the recent January transfer window, according to The Daily Mail.
The 21-year-old midfield talent Caicedo was desperate to force through a move to his big-name suitors Arsenal or Chelsea but ended up staying put on the south coast with Brighton not willing to sanction his departure.
It is said that De Zerbi, who succeeded Graham Potter to the top job at the Amex last year when the former arrived in the Chelsea dugout, made clear in private how pivotal Caicedo is to his squad for the second half of the season.
Chelsea, meanwhile, brought in long-standing target Enzo Fernandez in the final hours of the mid-season window with the Argentine world club star making the move to Stamford Bridge in a British transfer record set by the Blues to land his signature.
The west London giants parted ways with the veteran Italian maestro Jorginho who signed for the Premier League leaders Arsenal as they remained in the market for an alternative after failing to secure Caicedo’s services.
