Chelsea decide on new Caicedo transfer bid after Arsenal offer snubbed

Chelsea are unlikely to re-enter negotiations for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo after Arsenal had a £70million bid turned down by the Seagulls. The Blues have been actively looking to bolster Graham Potter’s squad this month, as Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile, Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana all joined in January but a midfielder remains the current priority.

Chelsea did test the waters with Brighton and offered £55m for Caicedo, who later made a public transfer plea on social media and called for his club to let him leave this month. Arsenal have also had two offers turned down swiftly in recent days, while the west Londoners remain lurking in the shadows.

However, Potter’s outfit currently have other transfers in mind. Chelsea are hoping to wrap up a deal for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez before the window closes, as they could be forced to pay his £105m release clause, having resumed negotiations with Benfica as they walked away from talks earlier in the window.

The Portuguese side have been adamant that Fernandez will only leave if his release clause is triggered, though Chelsea are reportedly willing to offer the fee in instalments. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Blues are only focused on Fernandez, shutting down talk that they could bid once again for Caicedo.