Big Chelsea boost expected for start of season as boss identifies interesting alternative to £100m target

Chelsea are still in discussion with Brighton and Hove Albion for midfielder Moises Caicedo but have now looked at other alternatives in case they just never agree a fee with the Seagulls.

According to the Evening Standard, Mauricio Pochettino has made contact with PSG outcast Leandro Paredes who will be a cheaper option although a short fix as they continue to build a team that looks after itself.

The Blues have sold a number of high-profile midfielders this season, including Mason Mount to Manchester United, Mateo Kovacic to treble winners Manchester City and N’Golo Kante to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad.

They have brought in Andrey Santos who impressed in pre-season while academy graduate Conor Gallagher excelled alongside Enzo in the games he played alongside the Argentine during the tour of the United States.

But the prime target remains Caicedo even though Brighton want £100million for his services and the Seagulls have rejected three offers from Chelsea already including a £80million bid last week.

The deal for Paredes will make sense for all involved if it was to happen as he with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Julian Draxler and Georginio Wijnaldum have all been banished from the first-team squad and made to train alone as the club try to find solutions in the market.

This week Chelsea have spent almost £65million on both goalkeeper Robert Sanchez ironically from Brighton and French defender Axel Disas from Monaco.

The last 30 days have been encouraging under new manager Mauricio Pochettino who spent the first two weeks at Chelsea’s Surrey training base working on fitness before they flew out to the United States, playing in five games, winning three and drawing two. They begin their Premier League campaign at home against Liverpool next weekend.