How would Brighton star Caicedo fit at Chelsea?

There is a robust likelihood that Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moses Caicedo may very well be lining up for Saturday’s U.S. pleasant opponents Chelsea subsequent season, if the 2 golf equipment can agree a switch price.

Having fended off curiosity from Arsenal in January — which noticed the 21-year-old publicly push for a transfer earlier than extending his contract till 2027 — Brighton now appear extra amenable to letting him go away. However with the Gunners opting to spend £105 million ($131m) to usher in Declan Rice from West Ham as a substitute, sources have told ESPN that Chelsea now head the queue to signal Caicedo and have seen a £70m ($91.5m) bid rejected already.

Together with his switch valued at round £100m, the Ecuador worldwide’s profession has skyrocketed since becoming a member of Brighton in August 2021 from Independiente del Valle, a membership famend for its first-class academy, for simply £4m. He was despatched out on mortgage to Beerschot in Belgium to achieve expertise right away, however when he returned Caicedo took little time to search out his ft within the Premier Leagueestablishing himself one of many high younger midfielders within the recreation throughout his first full marketing campaign.

Here is the lowdown on Chelsea’s potential new arrival.

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What makes him so particular?

Last season’s stats provide sure clues. Caicedo ranked second within the Premier League for tackles (100, at 39.1% success charge) and second for interceptions (56), each essential metrics on which to evaluate a central midfielder primarily lauded for his defensive capabilities.

He was ranked eighth in ball restoration (248) and repeatedly wins it again through his wonderful positioning and fast pondering, then fills the gaps the place cowl is required. As well as, he helps the transition with swift optimistic passing, which permits his extra attacking teammates to catch the opposition off stability on the counterattack.

Then there’s the speed at which he retains doing the precise factor, recreation after recreation, virtually with out fail. His 32 senior worldwide caps for Ecuador on the age of 21 can be a powerful indicator of his maturity. Although Caicedo’s improvement is nowhere close to completed but, his consistency, work ethic and tactical are already method above what can be anticipated from top-level footballers of their early 20s.

“He got here in fairly late to the academy — he was about to show 15. He was a fairly humble younger child; he did not get a lot enjoying time the primary 12 months however he was all the time very open, centered, constant and dependable. He all the time provided his finest effort at each coaching session and was prepared to pay attention and obtain steerage from his coaches. He was a perfect child to work with in that sense.

“He was the sort of expertise that whispered quite than shouted; you could not actually inform that he would turn into some of the needed defensive midfielders on the planet just some years later.” — Luis Roggiero, Sporting Director at Independiente del Valle when Caicedo joined the membership.

Whereas another central/defensive midfielders throughout Europe is likely to be equally diligent within the “harmful” facet of the sport, it is value emphasising that Caicedo has confirmed exceptionally dependable in possession (88.8% cross completion final season, with an 83% success charge on lengthy passes) and drives the ball ahead like an professional No. 8. Certainly, his impression as an attacking pressure tends to be understated, regardless that when he carries the ball into the ultimate third it usually results in a scoring likelihood for Brighton.

With a powerful work charge, tactical self-discipline, bodily energy and athleticism, Caicedo is remarkably environment friendly at what he does effectively. He completely blends the skillset of a basic No. 6 and No. 8 with none drop in high quality. And the way during which the teen relishes each problem suggests he’ll go far.

“I bear in mind when he was 17, he didn’t make the crew that was going to play within the Copa Mitad del Mundo — an essential U18 match that Independiente organises every year — as a result of he was getting back from an damage. However on the final second we had one other participant injured so we known as him into the crew.

“Caicedo had simply travelled for 4 or 5 hours on an uncomfortable bus again to his home. We known as him hoping he hadn’t left but however he was already house, so we requested him to come back again. He needed to take one other lengthy bus journey however ended up changing into a starter in that match, which we gained, and from there on he by no means stopped.

“Later that season, we went to play at a match in Spain the place he put in one other unimaginable efficiency. On the finish of that season, he was promoted to the primary crew with a view to easing him in for the subsequent season, however he was already coping so effectively with the calls for of the primary crew, he exceeded expectations and obtained enjoying time.” — Roggierio

How would he match at Chelsea?

Beneath Mauricio Pochettino, if he’s fielded in a double pivot (much like the tactical setup at Brighton) that ought to make him suitable with Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandezwho was signed for a British-record £106.8m in January.

Caicedo tended to depart the lion’s share of inventive duties to both Pascal Gross or Alexis Mac Allisterso his roaming presence in central areas ought to unlock room for Fernandez to shine.

Although Caicedo is able to performing playmaking duties himself, Fernandez’s potential to select line-breaking passes or unfold lateral swap balls is arguably his most important energy. Having the Ecuadorian alongside him will guarantee that he’s in a position to focus on these.

Is he much like N’Golo Kante in model?

Together with his unimaginable stamina, it is easy to envisage Caicedo protecting huge areas in midfield and sweeping up unfastened balls within the mould of Kante. The Frenchman, who left on a free switch to affix Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad this summer season, has a quite distinctive model that’s not the best to duplicate, however it has confirmed to be extremely profitable over latest years.

On the peak of his powers for Chelsea in 2016-17, Kante was second in tackles (127, at 47.4% success charge), sixth for interceptions (82) and second for ball restoration (275) in two fewer video games. Related stats to Caicedo.

But, do not be stunned if the Ecuadorian ups his attacking enter at Chelsea as his monumental work radius additionally brings him into extremely advantageous positions in and across the opposing penalty space.

Within the 2016-17 season, Kante created 22 possibilities (key passes plus assists) for his Chelsea teammates and had 27 photographs, whereas Caicedo made 43 possibilities and took 28 photographs in 2022-23 for Brighton. So you may anticipate him to have an effect at each ends of the pitch.

The place can he enhance?

Caicedo remains to be vulnerable to extreme fouling, which is a results of his high-energy, all-encompassing model. He might additionally convert extra of his possibilities to targets as he enters the field and up his creativity within the closing third.

However, primarily, he might want to be certain that he retains up his excessive stage of performances in a brand new setting, quite than add new aspects to his recreation.

“What has occurred with Brighton is simply extra affirmation of Caicedo having the ability to carry out on the stage that’s demanded — and even higher than that. I might guess that wherever his subsequent step is, from what he has proven us thus far, he ought to have the ability to carry on that very same path.” — Roggierio

Are every other golf equipment ?

Whereas Arsenal’s pursuit of Caicedo has subsided with the arrival of Rice, Liverpool and Manchester United have saved shut tabs on him. Regardless of already touchdown Brighton’s Mac Allister (£35m) and RB Leipzig‘s Dominik Szoboszlai (£62m), Liverpool are in want of a contemporary “hybrid” midfielder, and Caicedo would match the invoice to perfection. Manchester United might additionally revenue from a top quality improve subsequent to casemiro.

Nonetheless, it seems that Chelsea’s longstanding curiosity might need put them within the driving seat. Brighton have to date held agency to their valuation of £100m, however it won’t be lengthy earlier than Caicedo is carrying a distinct color of blue shirt.