According to The Express, Chelsea are considering alternative options if their pursuit of Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion does not materialize in the current summer transfer window.
The Blues have been engaged in negotiations with Brighton for an extended period, but no positive agreement has been reached yet.
Chelsea’s latest bid of £80 million was turned down by Brighton, and with time running out in the transfer window, the lack of progress is a cause for concern.
As an alternative plan, Chelsea are eyeing moves for Mohammed Kudus and Michael Olise if the Caicedo deal falls through.
While the Ecuadorian star is a holding midfielder, Kudus and Olise are versatile players who can operate on the right flank or as attacking midfielders.
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Under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, the Blues have undergone a significant squad overhaul, with several players departing to streamline the team. However, this restructuring will only be effective if the club manages to bring in suitable reinforcements.
Currently, the West Londoners are actively seeking replacements, with a particular focus on the defensive midfielder position, which has remained vacant since the departures of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.
Caicedo is considered the ideal candidate to fill this void, but negotiations with Brighton have yet to yield an agreement, leading to delays in their preparations for the upcoming season.
Despite the versatility of Kudus and Olise, it is crucial for Chelsea to prioritize signing Caicedo, given their need for a defensive midfielder.
Without securing the defensive midfielder’s services, the team might have to rely on Andrey Santos in that position. Last season, Chelsea’s midfield appeared vulnerable due to Kante’s injury, and they were often outperformed by opposing midfielders.
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Therefore, acquiring a reliable defensive midfielder like Caicedo is essential to strengthen their midfield and avoid such issues in the upcoming season.
It is crucial not to repeat past mistakes, as providing Pochettino with the necessary resources to succeed in winning games is vital.
Failing to do so could lead to accountability for both the manager and owners once again. Therefore, we must be careful in our approach and aim to secure the signing of Caicedo before our opening match against Liverpool on August 13th.
