Chelsea learn Brighton’s latest Moises Caicedo transfer stance as pre-season decision made

Chelsea target Moises Caicedo is expected to return to Brighton and Hove Albion pre-season training this week just in time for the final part, before they head off for their tour of the United States next week.

Brighton sources have told Londonworld that Ecuadorian midfielder Caicedo will not be going anywhere unless the club’s valuation in the region of £100million is met.

Chelsea have made the midfielder their prime transfer target this summer but have been faced with the challenge of having to cough up another £100million for the midfielder having already paid a similar fee for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.

The Blues have seen N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount leave the club this summer, so bringing in a midfielder is an absolute must even though they did not want to go as high as paying another fee closer to a british record.

Personal terms with the player sources say is not an issue but Brighton, who knocked back two offers from Arsenal in January for the midfielder, are said to be buoyed by West Ham’s show of strength that got them a £105million for the signature of Declan Rice.

Chelsea have been going hard in training at Cobham under new manager Mauricio Pochettino with the club also expecting want-away striker Romelu Lukaku to return for pre-season on Wednesday. New manager Pochettino has been putting players through the paces and will ensure they are at the required level before focusing on tactical work when they travel to the USA next week.

Pochettino has been tasked with rebuilding a team that finished outside the top 10 of the Premier League for the first time in almost 25 years even though Italian manager Antonio Conte did a similar job when he took over a Chelsea side that has lost its way the previous season to winning the league title in the presence of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.