Chelsea to make improved bid for Moises Caicedo after £70m offer was rejected - while they are considering signing a new centre back after injury to Wesley Fofana
Chelsea are to make an improved bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo and are considering adding a new centre-back after Wesley Fofana underwent surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Chelsea had a £70m bid rejected for Caicedo on Monday and are working on an £80m offer plus add-ons.
Brighton rejected offers from Arsenal of around £70m in January before assuring Caicedo, who signed a new four-year contract, that he would be granted his wish to leave if the interest was revived at a similar level in the summer.
However, fellow midfielder Declan Rice’s £105m move from West Ham to Arsenal has prompted a rethink on Caicedo’s valuation.
They now want around £30m more than was offered by Chelsea for Caicedo who wants to move to Stamford Bridge and is close to agreeing personal terms.
The Blues were handed a major blow on Tuesday after confirmation that Fofana underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Mauricio Pochettino hopes Fofana can play again this season but they are asking about possible replacements.
'I hope yes, he can be ready to play,' Pochettino said on Chelsea's US tour.
'We know very well it is difficult. Different bodies, different physiological people. He is evolving in a different way.
'We hope everything is going well with his recovery and he can be ready before the end of the season.'
Chelsea midfielder Omari Hutchinson is closing on a loan move to Ipswich Town.
Blues £45m rated Conor Gallagher is liked by Tottenham and West Ham but no offers have been made.
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