Chelsea are making progress in pursuit of the Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo and are keen to find a resolution with Manchester United over the sale of Mason Mount.
United had their third offer for Mount, of £50m plus £5m in add-ons, rejected last week as Chelsea set an asking price of £65m for the midfielder. Talks are taking place this week and Chelsea are believed to be ready to bring the saga to an end.
Mount’s contract expires next summer and he has indicated he will not sign an extension. In that context United believe the England international’s valuation is too high and they have decided to leave their third offer on the table. Chelsea’s proposal was £58m plus £7m in add-ons.
Erik ten Hag wants more athleticism in midfield and Mount is a key target. The aim for all parties is to find an amicable solution. Mount’s relationship with Chelsea has deteriorated over the past 12 months and the hierarchy are prepared to thrash out a compromise with United.
There would be little to gain from Mount reporting for training under Chelsea’s head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, next week. Mount is believed to have grown frustrated over delays to the transfer, though he will remain professional if an agreement cannot be found this week. Bayern Munich also want to speak to Chelsea about Mount, but United are favourites.
Chelsea are ready to part company with one of their best academy products and are looking to move in a different direction. Pochettino wants to strengthen in central midfield and is targeting Caicedo, who is eager to move to Chelsea. Brighton will allow the Ecuadorian to leave for the right price and it is understood £80m could be enough.
One factor during negotiations will be whether Brighton insist on Chelsea including Levi Colwill as part of the deal for Caicedo, who is also being targeted by United. Colwill spent last season on loan at Brighton but Chelsea have no intention of losing the centre-back. They have sold the Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly to Al-Hilal.
Caicedo may not be the only midfielder to join Chelsea. They are interested in Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga, who has a £34m buyout clause, and a bid for the Spaniard is expected soon. Chelsea have bolstered their attack by buying Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, who shares an agent with Caicedo.
Pochettino’s clearout continued when Édouard Mendy completed a move to Al-Ahli on Wednesday. Kai Havertz’s £65m move to Arsenal has been completed and Fulham, Milan and Nottingham Forest have registered interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is likely to leave.
Chelsea are prepared to sell the winger, who could be available for about £15m. A product of the academy, the 22-year-old is out of contract next summer and ready to find a new challenge.
Hudson-Odoi spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and there has been interest from Saudi Arabia. At this stage, it is understood the Saudi Pro League is not a priority for the player. The focus will be on finding a club in the Premier League or mainland Europe.
Fulham need more depth in attack and could offer Hudson-Odoi the chance to remain in west London, while Forest are looking for more quality after avoiding relegation. Milan have had extensive contact with Chelsea this summer and have agreed to sign the midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek for £15m plus add-ons. West Ham are also monitoring the situation but their top target on the left flank is Leicester’s Harvey Barnes.
There will be sadness when Hudson-Odoi leaves Chelsea. He was one of the best talents to emerge from their academy and came close to joining Bayern Munich in 2019 and 2020. Bayern’s interest prompted Chelsea to hand Hudson-Odoi a five-year deal worth about £120,000 a week in September 2019.
Hudson-Odoi was close to returning from a serious achilles injury when he signed that deal and has struggled to recapture his best form. Frank Lampard questioned the player’s application in training and Thomas Tuchel often used the England international as a right wing-back.
There is no question over Hudson-Odoi’s ability and he is keen to revive his career. He made his England debut aged 18 and hopes to rediscover the rhythm that once made him one of the most exciting young players in the country. He is unlikely to have a future under Pochettino.
