Chelsea boss Pochettino already has perfect N’Golo Kante replacement amid £70 million claim

Chelsea have jumped ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion this summer with the Blues looking to plug the holes that will be created by the mass departure.

Arsenal are closing in on Declan Rice from West Ham United and with Kante reportedly agreeing to move to Saudi Arabia for a massive £100 million-a-year wage, new Chelsea manager Pochettino is looking at Caicedo as the man for the future.

The Gunners came close to signing the Ecuadorian midfielder in January but Brighton turned down the offer and instead offered him a new long-term deal, but manager Roberto De Zerbi recently admitted he and Mac Allister might have played his last game for the club.

De Zerbi told reporters: “I think that can be the last game of Alexis (Mac Allister) and Moises, I’m really sorry. They are two great people and two great players.

“The policy of Brighton is like this. I think it’s right they can leave, can change teams and play in a level higher.”

As has been confirmed Alexis Mac Allister has joined Liverpool in a surprising £35 million deal with Chelsea now the front-runner for 21-year-old Caicedo.

According to the Telegraph, Brighton will only do business when a fee in the region of £70 million is on the table, and with the likes of Kante, Mount, and Kovacic all looking to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Chelsea have stepped up interest to bring him to west London.

The Blues finished 12th in the Premier League table, their worst finish to a campaign in 25 years, and looking for a massive rebuild that will get them back to competing for titles.