Roland Cutinho
Manchester United fear losing key midfield target to Premier League rivals Chelsea
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are currently considered the most likely destination for Manchester United target Moises Caicedo during this summer’s transfer window.
The reports of Chelsea’s interest in the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder surfaced around a week ago, and it appears that the discussions have intensified since then.
The Ecuadorian star is set to leave Brighton just six months after Arsenal’s unsuccessful attempt to sign him. Despite Caicedo expressing his desire to leave on social media, they ultimately rejected two bids from Arsenal in the past.
Eventually, the Seagulls managed to secure Caicedo by extending his contract until 2027. Brighton now holds a strong negotiating position, even with interest coming in from top clubs like Chelsea and Man United.
Recent rumours suggest that Chelsea are in talks for Caicedo, while United are also keeping an eye on the situation.
Despite previous rumours linking United with a move for Caicedo, the Red Devils have not officially entered the race for his signature. However, since the Red Devils have signed Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, they have now cooled their interest in Caicedo.
Taking advantage of this, Chelsea are now intensifying their interest in the South American ace, with a strong desire to secure a deal for the 21-year-old.
The £75 million-rated midfielder himself would have no issues accepting the personal terms with the West Londoners, enabling the Blues to initiate discussions with Brighton regarding a potential transfer.
The South American star played a significant role in Brighton’s successful season, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and finishing sixth in the league. He made 43 appearances across various competitions, contributing one goal and one assist throughout the 2022-23 season.
Chelsea are currently pursuing Caicedo as part of a midfield revamp led by manager Mauricio Pochettino.
N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic have joined Al-Ittihad and Manchester City, respectively. Mount, a product of Chelsea’s academy, has joined Man United after the two clubs agreed on a £60 million transfer fee.
Conor Gallagher is also expected to leave, with Newcastle United expressing interest. Additionally, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to join AC Milan. These developments indicate a significant overhaul of Chelsea’s midfield options.
Meanwhile, United manager Erik ten Hag is also keeping an eye on the defensive midfielder, who could provide excellent cover for Casemiro.
Although United have cooled their interest, we believe that signing Caicedo would undoubtedly strengthen United’s defensive stability as they prepare for their return to the Champions League.
Caicedo could also form a strong midfield partnership with Casemiro, providing a solid double pivot for the team. This move could also allow Christian Eriksen to operate in a more advanced role, bolstering their attacking options alongside Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
Furthermore, it would strengthen the team’s options in the attack, particularly behind a potential new striker. It was observed that the Red Devils struggled to meet expectations at the time when Casemiro was either suspended or injured.
The likes of Fred and Scott McTominay couldn’t level up the team’s performance, and there are even chances that these two players may be sold this summer. Caicedo would certainly be an upgrade over these options.
However, the limited transfer budget and the plan to sign a new keeper or striker first could hinder United’s chances of making a move for the 21-year-old.
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For now, it’s all Chelsea’s game to play, and they could be planning to exploit their neighbour’s vulnerability by striking a deal quickly with Brighton.
