Chelsea have set their sights on drafting in a central midfielder and their pursuit of Moises Caicedo will have benefited from the Brighton & Hove Albion star admitting he 'would be interested in a move' to Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.
Graham Potter was appointed as the Blues' head coach earlier this month, replacing the sacked Thomas Tuchel, and he is looking to seal a quickfire reunion with Caicedo in west London.
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What's the latest news involving Caicedo?
Caicedo appears to have opened the door for a move to Chelsea as he told Olé, via the Evening Standard, that ‘nobody would turn down an offer’ from the Blues and ‘it’d be a dream to be in the best teams in the world and succeed there’.
However, the capital club will have to stump up a huge amount of cash to get a deal over the line as, while he was still in charge of Brighton, Potter revealed it would take a bid worth close to £100million to tempt the Seagulls into sanctioning the 20-year-old's departure and the club are ready to discuss a new contract in an attempt to fend off suitors.
Liverpool appear to be Chelsea's stiffest competition as the Merseyside giants are reportedly keeping tabs on Caicedo's situation.
Arsenal, Manchester United, West Ham United, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen have also shown an interest in the Ecuadorian.
But Chelsea will be hoping Potter's close ties to Caicedo, having brought him to the Premier League in a £4.5million deal from Independiente del Valle last year and handed him 16 appearances, will result in them winning the race for his signature.
What has Pete O'Rourke said about Caicedo?
O'Rourke believes there are doubts over N'Golo Kante and Jorginho's respective futures at Chelsea and, as a result, Potter will be looking to lure a central midfielder to Stamford Bridge when the transfer window reopens.
The journalist feels Caicedo's admission that he would be open to reuniting with Potter is a huge positive for the Blues.
O'Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: "It's an obvious link, after Graham Potter moved to Chelsea, with one of his former Brighton stars being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as well.
"We know how well Caicedo did at the back-end of last season and has done at the start of this season. He has really impressed and I think, for Chelsea, there are a few doubts over their midfield going forward.
"N'Golo Kante and Jorginho's futures are uncertain, so I think it's something Chelsea would be looking at.
"It always helps if a player does suggest that he would be interested in a move to the club as well."
Why are there doubts over Kante and Jorginho's respective futures?
Kante's £290,000-per-week contract is set to expire next summer and Chelsea have been looking to tie him down to fresh terms.
However, it is understood that the Frenchman is unwilling to accept the proposal of a two-year deal with the option of being extended by a further 12 months.
Jorginho's £110,000-per-week agreement is also due to lapse at the end of June 2023 so, as things stand, this will be his final season at Stamford Bridge.