As the transfer window continues, many names are being mentioned about a move away from their respective club, one of them being Moisés Caicedo of Brighton. At just 21 years of age, the Ecuadorian international has made a name for himself in the Premier League after an impressive display throughout the last season.
Due to this, he has attracted a lot of interest from top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. His market value is set at around £80 million. However, due to the fact Declan Rice was sold to Arsenal for £105 million, Brighton will likely look to bump up the price.
Chelsea looks to be the direction Moises Caicedo is heading in, with reports stating they are the only club in direct talks to sign the midfielder. They have agreed on personal terms. He confirmed he is open to accepting a move to Chelsea, stating “It’s a big team, that’s true.” Caicedo also said they are “a very historic team and I can’t say no because it’s a very big, historic, beautiful team. The city as well is beautiful.”
Moisés Caicedo confirms he’s open to accept Chelsea: “It’s a big team, that’s true”. 🔵🇪🇨
“A very historic team and I can’t say no because it’s a very big, historic, beautiful team. The city as well is beautiful”, told @majofloresm.
Talks underway between Chelsea and Brighton. pic.twitter.com/8lxV1cWIQk
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2023
Why are so many clubs interested?
Caicedo was an important player for Brighton last season, helping them finish sixth in the Premier League, which was their highest-ever finish in the competition. As a result, it secured qualification for Europe for the first time in their history. He played a total of 3,140 minutes in the Premier League last season, the third-highest at the club.
As a defensive midfielder, he is able to win the ball back effortlessly. He covers vast areas of the pitch, sitting in front of the back four whilst Brighton are out of position. Caicedo has an extraordinary ability to recover possession and covert them into build-up play, which highlights his physical characteristics alongside his general intelligence of the game. Additionally, he is able to stay composed when you need it most, creating space from tight areas of the pitch with ease. Something that goes under the radar in Caicedo’s game is his ability to initiate goal-scoring opportunities through his passing ability.
An obvious thing to note is the fact he also has Premier League experience. That is something many players struggle with coming from other leagues. With the physical demand the league brings, it is something that would not be a worry for any club signing the young prospect.
Is he worth it?
With all the attributes Caicedo holds as a player, at such a young age where he will continue to develop, he is definitely worth the investment at around the £80-£100 million area. He is already showing signs of immense growth and development and will be one for the present and for the future of the club, he ends up moving to.
The footballing abilities he holds make him an ideal candidate to integrate into a squad and build around him. His presence in the squad will have an immediate impact both defensively and attacking-wise, solidifying the team’s back-line while providing a creative spark in the final third.