Brighton ‘stall’ Chelsea talks with De Zerbi ‘intent’ on including 20-year-old in transfer for £100m star
Brighton’s desire to include Levi Colwill in a deal to sell Moises Caicedo to Chelsea is ‘stalling’ negotiations, according to Jacob Steinberg.
Colwill starred on loan at the Seagulls last term and Roberto De Zerbi is very eager to sign the young centre-back on a permanent basis.
Chelsea have always been reluctant to sell the England Under-21 international and Wesley Fofana’s ACL injury now means Mauricio Pochettino is adamant he will not leave this summer.
Brighton are evidently using the Blues’ interest in Caicedo to convince them to part ways with Colwill.
De Zerbi’s side are apparently using Declan Rice’s £105million move to Arsenal as the benchmark for the fee Caicedo should be sold for, which is putting Chelsea off.
And according to The Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg, Brighton’s reluctance to omit Colwill from negotiations over a deal for Caicedo is ‘stalling’ the process.
Steinberg says talks are ‘moving slowly’ as Brighton take a ‘strong stance’ over their £100m valuation of the Ecuadorian midfielder.
MAILBOX: Kylian Mbappe €1bn record deal is ultimate game’s gone moment, not Moises Caicedo price
Albion have ‘informed’ Pochettino’s side ‘their chances of signing Caicedo will increase’ if there is a ‘compromise’ met on Colwill.
Brighton had an opening offer worth £30m rejected with the Blues ‘determined to keep’ the 20-year-old, who impressed at the Amex last term.
The report says De Zerbi’s side ‘remain intent on signing Colwill’ and keep bringing up his name in discussions with their Premier League rivals, which has resulted in an ‘impasse’.
Brighton clearly hold all of the cards here as they are ‘prepared’ to negotiate until the end of the window as they continue to test Chelsea’s resolve over Colwill.
Understandably, Chelsea are ‘reluctant’ to pay £100m but are preparing a third bid for Caicedo, Steinberg adds.
It is also claimed that the Blues are looking to sell England midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Steinberg says the Blues are ‘willing to listen to offers’ for Gallagher with West Ham and Tottenham both keen.
The 23-year-old is out of contract in 2025 and Chelsea have been looking to offload any players not willing to commit their long-term future to the club, so the player is now ‘up for sale’.
Pochettino has already lost N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount this summer and the sale of Gallagher would leave the head coach incredibly short in midfield.
He is looking to sign a versatile attacking midfielder and the report adds that Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga and Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus are all being looked at.
READ MORE: Kylian Mbappe’s next club: Real Madrid, Saudi, Man Utd or another Prem side?
