Caicedo to Chelsea update emerges as Brighton chief offers hope amid new bid

Chelsea transfer news: Moises Caicedo continues to be linked with a summer switch to the Blues and now Brighton CEO Paul Barber has offered an update on the midfielder

The Ecuador international has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea and is now actively pushing for a move to Stamford Bridge. Brighton omitted Caicedo from their squad to face Rayo Vallecano due to a slight hamstring injury, however according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Caicedo didn't play as a clear indication he wants to leave.

"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."

"For a young player like Moises, at 21, he is one of the best midfield players in the world already, certainly one of the best in Europe," Barber told Sky Sports, via Football Daily. "We've had a fantastic time working with Moises and we want that to continue. We've got him under a long contract, but again we're also realistic to know there is interest and as a young man that is inevitably going to have an impact on your thought processes and unsettle you a little bit, we understand that.

"But for now he is a Brighton player and we expect him to work hard and prepare for the new season and we'll see what happens." When asked if he is in the right frame of mind to play against Luton, he added: "That is really a question for Robert (De Zerbi) and ultimately with Moises himself. He had very slight hamstring strain at the back end of last week.

"We pulled him out of the friendly as a precaution with a view to Luton coming here this week. But, again the window has a long way to go and we'd love to keep him because he's a really important player so we'll see where we are."