Chelsea have perfect present for Moises Caicedo if Todd Boehly delivers transfer

Pochettino offers update on Chelsea's pursuit of Caicedo

Chelsea could give Moises Caicedo the perfect present by handing him his favoured No 25 shirt if they agree a £115million deal with Brighton to take the player to Stamford Bridge. The Blues are in the driving seat to land the 21-year-old after he reportedly snubbed a move to Liverpool on Friday.

Caicedo has become a star player in the Premier League since joining Brighton from Independiente two-and-a-half years ago. The Ecuador midfielder featured 37 times in the top-flight last season and helped the Seagulls finish sixth in the table.

Caicedo’s fine form in a Brighton shirt has brought him to the attention of a whole host of top clubs, with Chelsea and Liverpool battling for his signature in recent weeks. The Reds appeared to be in poll position to sign the star after agreeing a British record £111million fee in exchange for his signature. But they were knocked back at the last minute as Caicedo apparently only has eyes for Chelsea.

According to The Guardian, Chelsea are now ready to bid more than £110m to get their hands on Caicedo. A fee of £115m might get the deal done just months after they paid a record £107m for Enzo Fernandez. And if Blues owner Todd Boehly delivers the transfer, Caicedo could find himself donning the No 25 shirt this season.

Read more… Harry Kane told he’s ‘finally joining proper club’ with Tottenham transfer exit

Caicedo has worn the No 25 shirt at Brighton ever since being handed a first-team squad number. And his rise to prominence on the south coast could mean the player is desperate to hang on to the same shirt.

Incredibly, Chelsea’s No 25 shirt has been out of use for two decades as no one has worn it since legendary striker Gianfranco Zola left the club in 2003. Zola wore the shirt for seven seasons at Stamford Bridge and racked up 79 goals and 29 assists in 311 games while donning it. In the years before Zola wore the shirt, Terry Phelan, David Lee and Ian Pearce all had it for one season.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Don’t miss…
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher in feisty Sky Sports argument[LATEST]
Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich wages blow 14 Man Utd and Man City stars out of water[INSIGHT]
Transfer news – Arsenal bonus signing, Man City make £87m bid[TRANSFER NEWS]

Before Caicedo rejected a move to Anfield, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “The fee with the club is agreed. We will see what that means. We aren’t a club with endless resources and we didn’t expect a couple of things to happen this summer. Then it happened.”

Meanwhile Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi has already accepted he will not be able to call upon the star this season. “I have already forgotten about Moises,” he explained. “I’m really proud of the players we have in the squad. Bigger clubs can buy our players but they can’t buy our soul or spirit.”

Source: Read Full Article