Chelsea have had an offer of £55m rejected for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to reports.
The Ecuadorian midfielder has been touted for a big-money move to a whole host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool.
But it appears that the Londoners have made the first move for the rising star, with The Athletic reporting that an offer of £55m was put 'in writing' earlier this week. However, the report later adds that such a bid has been rejected by the South Coast outfit - reaffirming their stance that they do not want to part company with one of their most-prized assets.
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"The Stamford Bridge club made a bid in writing this week worth £55million, but Brighton value the 21-year-old considerably higher and the stance at the Amex Stadium is that he is not for sale," reads The Athletic's report. "The proposal was far below what Brighton would even consider, let alone accept, and they have no interest in letting him go anywhere in this window."
Earlier this month, Brighton CEO Paul Barber claimed that a rumoured fee of £42m would only afford Caicedo's laces, not even in his boots as he jokingly teased that the midfielder was not one of the most valuable midfielders in Europe.
“I am not sure £42 million will even include the boots now, maybe just the laces," he said. "But joking aside, every player’s value is ultimately determined by the market.
"Graham’s comments were part in jest but part serious because Moises has been an exceptional player for us. Since he came to the Premier League, he has developed all the time. He’s a young man with a great attitude, fantastic work ethic and a very nice human being off the pitch. So all those things contribute to the value of a footballer should it come to that moment to sell.”
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