Romano confirms ‘first bid’ made for €60m Chelsea target; Moises Caicedo ‘also on shortlist’

Jason Soutar
Chelsea-linked Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte during a match

Paris Saint-Germain have made a bid to sign Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte, with Chelsea ‘absolutely’ in the running’, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Ugarte has impressed in Portugal since joining Famalicao from CA Fenix in January 2021.

The Uruguayan international lasted a grand total of six months at Famalicao before being bought by Sporting, where he has established himself as a terrific defensive midfielder.

There is a host of interest coming from the Premier League with Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Liverpool all believed to be keen.

Liverpool are in dire need of midfield reinforcements, while Newcastle and Chelsea are expected to sign a player of Ugarte’s profile.

French outlet L’Equipe reported this week that Ugarte is expected to leave Sporting at the end of the season, with PSG eyeing up his €60m release clause.

And now Romano has said the French champions have made an opening bid for the player as opposed to triggering the exit clause.

Romano insists it is not a done deal but PSG have made an offer with ‘different payment terms’ to the release clause with Ugarte’s agent, Jorge Mendes, ‘on it’.

‘Chelsea are absolutely in the race’ to land the Sporting star, with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo also on their transfer ‘list’.

Caicedo is one player Brighton will be able to secure a mammoth profit on in the summer transfer window.

Signed from Ecuadorian side Independiente for a measly £2m in February 2021, Caicedo has attracted interest from the best teams in England, with Arsenal seeing a £70m bid rejected in January.

The 21-year-old is now worth €55m (£47.8m), as per Transfermarkt, though Brighton will do what they do best and get every penny possible for one of their best players.

Chelsea were also keen in the winter transfer window and are in the market for a defensive midfielder heading into the summer.

The priority for the Blues is to land a striker, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen on their shortlist, according to reports.

Mauricio Pochettino reportedly agreed to become Chelsea’s next manager weeks ago, but an announcement has not been made.

The Argentine’s arrival is the main reason the Blues have been linked with Kane. The England captain spent five-and-a-bit years under Pochettino at Spurs.

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