Chelsea preparing opening bid for £100 million rated Premier League star

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino will be keen to bolster his squad following the departures of several key players in recent weeks. 

No fewer than seven senior players have departed Stamford Bridge this summer, including N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz.

Loanees Denis Zakaria and Joao Felix have also both returned to their respective parent clubs, while forgotten man Tiemoue Bakayoko has been released.

Those departures have left the Blues particularly short of options in midfield, although it looks like the west London outfit could now be looking to make a new signing.

According to 90min, Chelsea are preparing an offer for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The Blues have been linked with the Ecuador international for several weeks now, but the report claims that they are now preparing their first offer for the midfielder.

Caicedo is set to be the subject of an offer from Chelsea in the coming days

Caicedo, 21, has been in fine form for the Seagulls over the past 18 months, but his performances haven’t gone unnoticed.

Last term he made 43 appearances across all competitions, taking his tally for the club to 53.

It is claimed that the Ecuadorian is Chelsea’s top target this summer as they look to bolster their squad, although Brighton are reportedly demanding £100 million for the player.

Talks between Chelsea and Caicedo’s representatives are said to have already taken place, and the report claims that an agreement over personal terms won’t be an issue.

Back in January, Caicedo was the subject of significant interest from Arsenal, but the Gunners had at least two offers rejected.

Shortly after, the Ecuadorian signed a new long-term contract with the Seagulls, but it appears increasingly likely that he will depart the club this summer.