Transfer watch: Moises Caicedo

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Moises Caicedo looks set to follow Alexis Mac Allister’s exit from Brighton this transfer window with the midfielder attracting interest from the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

Caicedo and Brighton have a gentleman’s agreement following his transfer saga in January that would allow him to leave the club this window if the right offer is received.  Arsenal’s 75-million-pound bid was rejected by the Seagulls as they valued Caicedo’s contribution to their European chase ahead of any potential fee.

Manchester United are rumoured to be interested but Moises Caicedo is not their priority, right now they are focussed on negotiating on a deal for Andre Onana from Inter Milan and then will look for a striker with their targets being Harry Kane and Rasmus Holjund from Atalanta.

Chelsea are leading the race for the Ecuadorian having agreed personal terms more than a month ago with Caicedo very keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.  The Blues are in talks with Brighton but there may be friction around the fee as Arsenal’s 105-million-pound move for Declan Rice is said to be the benchmark.

If Chelsea were to complete the signing of Caicedo it would be one of the best signings of the transfer window.  The Ecuadorian would be the perfect partner for big money signing Enzo Fernandez who would benefit from Caicedo’s defensive talents.

Enzo has been deployed as Chelsea’s deepest midfielder, a position that he is capable of  playing but does not bring out the strengths of his game. Fernandez would be able to take up a more advanced role where he would have more influence in the attacking build-up and provide more goals and assists.

Caicedo’s marking and tackling are sensational, he was one of the most effective midfielders in the league when it came to interceptions and recovering the ball.  This would be the catalyst to Mauricio Pochettino’s transformation at Stamford Bridge.

However, Caicedo does have one glaring weakness, this is his aerially ability.  Standing at 1.78m or 5ft 10”, there is the possibility Chelsea will be vulnerable in midfield to off the ground play, that they can be bullied in the air by more physically dominant opposition.

His strengths on the ball cannot be underestimated, Caicedo was ranked as one of the most effective progressive passers in the Premier League in addition to being an extremely competent dribbler, beating opposition in high pressure moments.  Overall, this makes him a highly valuable press resistant player that excels at ball retention and has genuine quality in the attacking build-up.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all shown serious interest in the midfielder, this is a testament to his quality. The 21-year-old adds more than just quality in midfield, he is another extremely versatile player, a trait that all the biggest teams in Europe and the Premier League are after, as versatility allows for tactical flexibility.

Pep Guardiola’s success tactically can be partly attributed to the extreme versatility of the players in his squad.  Nathan Ake, John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan are examples of players that excel in multiple areas of the field.  Caicedo is a high-quality defensive midfielder that is more than capable of playing higher up the field with more offensive responsibility and has even been excellent as a fullback towards the end of last season.  Versatility comes at a premium.

Chelsea is looking like a very likely destination with personal terms reportedly agreed more than a month ago, it is just the near 100-million-pound price tag that stands in the way.  The only obstacle in Chelsea’s way would be Chelsea not meeting the price Brighton demand.

Photo: Twitter @FrazFletcher

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Dylan Johnson