Chelsea identify 24-year-old as Moises Caicedo alternative for summer window

Declan Rice has been identified by Chelsea as possible alternative signing for Moises Caicedo in the summer transfer window

Chelsea’s pursuit of Moises Caicedo since the start of the transfer window was given a severe setback when the Ecuadorian recently signed a new contract with the Seagulls, although the Blues have now identified his replacement.

It is rumoured that Chelsea have their sights set on someone else who can fill the vacuum. Declan Rice is a major target for both Arsenal and Chelsea in the upcoming summer window, as per CBS journalist Ben Jacobs in a story for Caught Offside (h/t Football.London).

In January, the 21-year-old’s departure from Brighton Hove & Albion was strongly rumoured and the player even relayed his desire to leave the Amex on social media.

Caicedo pleased Todd Boehly, who wanted to recruit him. However, Brighton refused to let go of the midfielder, and we ended up with Enzo Fernandez in January.

However, 24-year-old Declan Rice has now been identified by Chelsea as the ideal addition for the summer transfer window, and the Blues could persuade him given that he graduated from the Blues’ academy.

According to the source, if a deal between £75 million and £85 million is made, West Ham will sell the midfielder. Yet, whoever loses out on Rice is rumoured to explore a move for Caicedo.

Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are well-known players, and acquiring either of them would be a major advantage for us. They would add much-needed steel and youth to our midfield which lost Jorginho in January and could lose N’Golo Kante in the near future.

Both players are impressive defensive midfielders and they can determine how the game progresses by distributing the ball from the defence to the offence. Caicedo isn’t shabby going forward either while Rice seems to be more of a destroyer in central midfield.

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However, both players could be drawn to our project given we are now in the re-building phase. But we are also in real danger of missing out on European football completely, and that’s never good when a club wants to sign big-name players, especially ones that won’t have problems finding suitors elsewhere.