Chelsea: £85m ‘part-exchange’ deal could scupper Arsenal as ‘record bid’ for defender is ‘prepared’ | OneFootball

According to reports, Chelsea could look to include Levi Colwill in a ‘part-exchange’ deal for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

Colwill spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Brighton and the 20-year-old made the most of his opportunity at the Seagulls.

The centre-back was limited to just 22 appearances for the Premier League outfit but he barely put a foot wrong and he formed a strong partnership with Lewis Dunk.

The youngster’s future is up in the air heading into this summer as a lot has changed at Chelsea over the past year.

But Brighton clearly want to keep him ahead of their debut in the Europa League and they have already had a £30m bid for the defender rejected.

Fabrizio Romano is now reporting that ‘Brighton are now preparing a new, record bid for Colwill’ and this ‘close to £40m’ offer will ‘be submitted soon’.

His report claims Chelsea ‘have no intention to sell’ Colwill as he is ‘part of their long-term plans’, but this is refuted by Football Insider.

They believe ‘Chelsea could include defender Colwill in a player-plus-cash deal for Brighton midfield star Caicedo’.

The Seagulls are said to be ‘demanding £80-85m for Caicedo after he penned a new long-term contract earlier this year.

The report adds: ‘A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Caicedo would be interested in a summer move to Stamford Bridge – and it is believed he has an understanding with Brighton allowing him to leave if the right offer comes in.’

Caicedo attracted the interest of Arsenal in January. The Gunners had a couple of bids rejected for the midfielder and he remains on their shortlist heading into this summer.

It was indicated earlier this week that Caicedo has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal ahead of a potential move to the Emirates.

TalkSPORT presenter and Arsenal supporter Laura Woods thinks Brighton “would be open” to a part-exchange move involving Colwill and Caicedo.

“Obviously Arsenal were the team pushing for him in January. He signed a new contract in January and part of the reason Brighton wanted to keep him then was that they were anticipating there would be more clubs in for him in the summer,” Woods said on talkSPORT.

“I think that is the case because Arsenal are lurking in the background. Brighton’s trump card might just be their interest in Levi Colwill.

“We know last week they had a £30m bid rejected by Chelsea for the young defender. Mauricio Pochettino wants to keep him, but if they can somehow facilitate a loan move or part-exchange move involving Caicedo then I think Brighton would be open for that.”

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