Brighton owner Tony Bloom values Chelsea transfer target Moises Caicedo at £120m, according to the Daily Telegraph reporter Matt Law.

The reliable journalist claims Mauricio Pochettino’s team are very much in “pole position” to sign the Ecuadorian international but negotiating a transfer fee with the Seagulls won’t be “easy”:

Chelsea currently in pole position in Caicedo race – but Brighton won’t make it easy #cfc https://t.co/DLUmuZjBve

— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) June 15, 2023

It has been reported that Caicedo has already decided that he wants to join Chelsea, but it looks like a deal is far from being finalised.

Talks over a move are expected to begin next week, but it was hoped that a fee in the region of £80m would be enough to tempt Brighton into selling. However, there appears to be a sizeable gap between the two parties at the moment.

A part exchange offer could be the solution

Brighton are also said to be interested in signing Conor Gallagher so there is a possibility that the England international could be included in Chelsea’s opening bid.

Gallagher is valued at around £50m by the Blues and using him as a carrot in negotiations could dramatically reduce the cost of buying Caicedo.

Are their rivals for Caicedo’s signature?

Arsenal would have been Chelsea’s main competitor for the 21-year-old, having had two bids rejected for the player during the January transfer window.

However, they are currently focused on getting a deal in place for West Ham’s Declan Rice and they are unlikely to have the budget to sign both the Hammers captain and Caicedo.

Manchester United and Liverpool have also been suggested as potential suitors recently, although there has been no indication that they will firm up their interest and make a formal offer for the midfielder. Currently, it seems like Chelsea will have a clear run to snap him up.