Roberto De Zerbi has revealed that Brighton will sign ‘another important player’ if Moises Caicedo leaves Brighton this summer. The 21-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge recently as Chelsea hope to further bolster their midfield before the summer transfer window slams shut. While the west Londoners continue to negotiate a fee with Brighton, football.london understands that Caicedo has verbally agreed personal terms over a potential transfer – but nothing has been signed yet. Following the Seagull’s final pre-season friendly, which saw the Ecuadorian omitted from the squad due to injury, Roberto De Zerbi conceded that he could lose his star midfielder.
Roberto De Zerbi said: “I don’t know [if he’ll be back in training tomorrow]. If Moises leaves, we will find another important player. And if Moises stays, I will be happy for us, for the team, for the club. But it’s not my problem now… If Moises leaves, we will bring another player in. We are Brighton, and under our policy there is the possibility to lose some players at the end of the season. It was the same for [Alexis] Mac Allister and [Levi] Colwill.”
Earlier that same day, Paul Barber remained coy when he was asked about Caicedo. As quoted by Ben Jacobs,
Paul Barber said: “Moises had a slight hamstring injury late in training and was pulled out for that reason. With a Premier League season just a week away it makes no sense to risk him today. We’re looking forward to Moises starting the season with us, he’s a Brighton player under a long-term contract. He’s probably one of the most exciting young midfield players in the world at the moment and we’re delighted to have him.”
With the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign just around the corner, Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to start working with Caicedo at Cobham training ground as soon as possible. Chelsea will welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, August 13, and, without a defensive midfielder, the Blues could struggle against Jurgen Klopp’s ‘rock and roll’ football.
