Brighton reject Chelsea's improved £80m bid for Moises Caicedo

Moises Caicedo remains a Brighton player, at least for now. Photo: Getty Images/David Horton. worth £80m, was immediately rejected by Brighton.

The offer was Chelsea's third attempt to buy Caicedo this summer, but Brighton are known to value the midfielder for over £100m and have no need to sell him.

Caicedo is keen to move to Stamford Bridge and it is clear that negotiations between all parties will continue in the coming days.

But Chelsea may have to start considering alternative options if they can't make any headway against Caicedo, especially given the lack of depth in central midfield.

Of the six registered Chelsea midfielders on their US traveling team, three are teenagers and two of them have never played for the club in competition.

Chelsea lack central midfield and are desperate to land in Ecuador. Photo: Getty Images/Ryan Pierse

Conor Gallagher, one of the club's few senior central midfielders, is also showing serious interest from other Premier League sides. Chelsea have turned down a £40million offer from West Ham United for the England midfielder.

Levi Colville's future still has to do with Chelsea's pursuit of Caicedo as Brighton want to sign the English defender on a permanent basis following his successful loan spell on the south coast last season.

But Chelsea have been saying all summer that Colville is not for sale, and their new manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted in recent days that the central the defender will not leave the club.

Chelsea have received a third offer for Caicedo. after a £70m offer was rejected earlier this month. At the start of the summer window, Brighton turned down an initial offer of £60m.

Caicedo played for Brighton in a pre-season friendly win against Brentford on Wednesday.

Roberto De Zerby, Brighton's manager, made it clear that he would like Caicedo to sign a suitable replacement should Caicedo leave the club before the end of the transfer window. «If Caicedo leaves, we should replace him with a great player,» said De Zerbi.

A possible alternative to Caicedo is Southampton's Romeo Lavia. Chelsea are fans of the teenager, although they will face some serious competition from Liverpool, who are in talks with Southampton over a deal.

Southampton value Lavia at £50m, up at least £15m million pounds more than Liverpool. have so far said they are willing to pay.

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