Chelsea actively trying to sign Moises Caicedo for British transfer record

Liverpool had agreed a British record transfer fee for the midfielder

Sky Sports are reporting that the Blues are preparing to submit an offer of £115m - which would eclipse the £111m Liverpool offered for the Ecuadorian and break the current record that was set by Chelsea back in January when they paid £106m for Enzo Fernandez.

It follows after the news that Caicedo has reportedly rejected Liverpool for a move to Chelsea.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Brighton midfielder "only wants to join Chelsea," and will only accept the personal terms he agreed with the London club in May.

The news comes just hours after Liverpool had agreed a £111m fee with the Seagulls for Caicedo, which would have been a British transfer record.

But Romano has said Chelsea are "set to bid again in order to get [the] deal done."

The Ecuadorian midfielder is one of the most sought after players in the Premier League, and came close to leaving Brighton in this year's January transfer window.

Since then, he has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but on Thursday it seemed like Liverpool had managed to swoop in at the 11th hour and secure the 21-year-old's signing.

Brighton were holding out for a fee in excess of £100m for the player, a valuation which Chelsea clearly hadn't met.

Caicedo joined Brighton from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle for £4m in February 2021, but didn't make his Premier League debut until April 2022.

In March, he signed a new deal at Brighton until 2027.

Chelsea are also said to be close to agreeing a deal with Southampton for 19-year-old midfielder, Romeo Lavia.

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