As revealed by Fabrizio Romano, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has stated that he is counting on Moises Caicedo to be part of his squad for the upcoming season.
Chelsea have made two unsuccessful bids of £60 million and £70 million to acquire the player during this summer’s transfer window.
Both teams will face each other in a pre-season friendly match in Philadelphia on Saturday as part of the Premier League’s new Summer Series.
Caicedo will be unhappy that a transfer has not materialized for him yet, but Brighton manager De Zerbi remains hopeful of retaining the services of the Ecuadorian midfielder at the club.
Despite Chelsea’s failed bids, Caicedo’s future remains uncertain as both parties prepare to face each other in a pre-season friendly match. The Seagulls’ manager said:
“At the moment Moises is a Brighton player. I spoke with [club owner] Tony Bloom and he told me if the conditions don’t change then Moises stays with us.”
“I don’t know how the situation will end. It’s a clear situation at the moment. He stays with us until my owner changes his mind. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but if Moises leaves we have to find the right player because it’s difficult to replace a player as good as Moises.”
De Zerbi: “Caicedo stays with us until my owner changes his mind. No idea of what can happen in the future — but if Moises leaves we have to find the right player” 🔵🇪🇨
“We have to substitute him with a great player because this year we play in the Europa League unlike Chelsea”. pic.twitter.com/DiNQmUFEBV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 22, 2023
Caicedo signed a new four-year contract extension with Brighton in February, with the possibility of an additional year through a club option.
However, it is reported that during the contract negotiations, Caicedo was verbally assured that he would be allowed to leave if a reasonable offer came in this summer. However, the Brighton manager has denied such rumours.
Brighton’s pursuit of Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill has further complicated talks regarding Caicedo. The club has already had a £30 million bid for Colwill rejected by Chelsea, who insist that the player is not for sale.
Nevertheless, the Seagulls are not ruling out the possibility of bringing the England U-21 international back to the club.
People close to Caicedo are hopeful that face-to-face discussions between Brighton and Chelsea will occur in Philadelphia to find a resolution for his future.
Must Read: Chelsea preparing to launch £80m for Brighton star Moises Caicedo
However, as of now, Chelsea have not submitted a third bid for the player. If they do make another offer, they intend to stay closer to the £80 million mark rather than the previous £100 million figure.
