West Ham United has received a £90m bid from Manchester City for Declan Rice, as reported earlier by Pengman Sports. This development leaves Chelsea facing a challenging situation, as their summer plans become entwined with the battle between Arsenal and Manchester City for Rice’s signing.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is attempting to secure Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion. Talks with Brighton are said to be progressing well, as co-chairman Todd Boehly aims to negotiate down Caicedo’s £80m price tag. However, the Seagulls reportedly desire a fee of £100m and are unlikely to accept less than £80m.
If Manchester City’s bid for Rice proves successful, Arsenal is poised to pursue Caicedo. Given the choice between the two clubs, Caicedo may opt for a move to the Emirates. Chelsea’s 12th place finish in the previous season and the prospect of being without European football is a significant setback.
As Cited by GiveMeSport, Ryan Taylor, a journalist from the Daily Express, suggests that Chelsea might delay signing Caicedo until next month due to the club’s financial records being reset ahead of the 2023-24 season in July. However, Italian journalist Rudy Galetti believes Chelsea will make a second bid for Caicedo, as securing his signing remains a priority. The Blues’ earlier £60m bid for the midfielder was rejected.
Caicedo could be an excellent addition to Chelsea’s squad, potentially replacing Mateo Kovacic. The Ecuador international showcased his skills during the previous season, making 43 appearances for Brighton.