Chelsea willing to raise Caicedo transfer offer to £80m

Chelsea are reportedly ready to raise their offer for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo to around the £80 million ($101m) mark.

The Ecuador international was heavily linked with the Blues during the January window, before signing a new contract with the Seagulls, and has seen a £60m ($76m) approach from Stamford Bridge for his services knocked back.

Chelsea are in a position to spend again under Todd Boehly as they are set to raise around £200m ($253m) from sales – with the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount moving on. Standard Sport claims that some of those funds will be invested in Caicedo.

The highly-rated 21-year-old has proven himself in the Premier League and still has plenty of potential to unlock in his game. Arsenal have previously expressed interest in Caicedo, but they are in the process of tying up a club-record £105m ($133m) move for West Ham captain Declan Rice.

Caicedo is not the only midfielder that Chelsea have their sights on as after bidding farewell to the likes of Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, they are also monitoring Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia, Everton star Amadou Onana and Celta Vigo ace Gabri Veiga.