Report: Saudi giants target £100m Chelsea star in bold summer transfer plan | OneFootball

Saudi ambitions turn to Chelsea’s midfield

According to a report by The Telegraph, Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have added Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo to their shortlist of ambitious summer targets. The Ecuador international is regarded as a potential marquee signing, mirroring Al-Nassr’s recruitment strategy of targeting Premier League-established talent. The report states, “Caicedo, in his second season at Stamford Bridge… is on the shortlist of Al-Nassr as they draw up potential signings when the transfer window opens.”

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The 23-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion in a record-breaking deal worth over £100 million, remains one of the club’s most dependable figures under new head coach Enzo Maresca. As it stands, Caicedo is the only Chelsea player to have started every Premier League game this season, highlighting his indispensability to the current squad.

Al-Nassr’s pursuit signals a continued drive to enhance their midfield with young, top-tier European talent. The Saudi club, who already boast names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Aymeric Laporte and Jhon Durán, are believed to consider Caicedo “a dream target” and are reportedly prepared to pay a premium—likely upwards of £100 million.

Chelsea’s commitment to Caicedo is tested

Chelsea will not be easily swayed. When Caicedo signed an unprecedented eight-year deal with the club in 2023, the intention was clear: build a midfield core around him. The midfielder’s blend of defensive discipline, composure in possession, and engine across 90 minutes has not gone unnoticed.

“Moi is doing fantastic,” Maresca said after Chelsea’s recent win over Tottenham. “In this moment I think he is one of the best or the best defensive midfielders in the world… he is very humble, very kind, he is polite, he is a fantastic guy.” The emotional backing from the manager and consistent selection underline the player’s status within the squad.

Given the current trajectory of Maresca’s Chelsea—one seeking a return to the European elite—it’s difficult to see how the club could justify letting such a player leave, regardless of price. And yet, Chelsea have shown a willingness to sell high-profile names in recent transfer windows.

Summer shake-up unlikely to feature core departures

Caicedo’s situation contrasts markedly with that of players like Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher or Romelu Lukaku—figures who were either surplus to requirements or deemed expendable assets. Caicedo, by contrast, is central to the current project. As The Telegraph rightly states, “The big difference is the loanees were not part of the first-team set-up while Caicedo is a key first-team player.”

Indeed, there is no suggestion that Caicedo himself is pushing for a move, nor that Chelsea have engaged in any serious talks. However, the very existence of this interest signals the start of a wider summer narrative. The player has six years left on his contract and Chelsea hold all the cards in terms of negotiation strength.

But it would not be the first time that Saudi money tests resolve. The £71 million move for Durán from Aston Villa—another young, Premier League player—shows that Al-Nassr’s project has moved beyond signing ageing icons. They’re targeting players in their prime, and Caicedo fits the bill.

Chelsea’s project still demands stability

With Champions League qualification still a realistic objective and a Europa Conference League campaign ongoing, Chelsea will be reluctant to make major personnel changes this summer unless absolutely necessary. Caicedo has been a symbol of the club’s resurgence in structure and approach under Maresca. Disrupting that to cash in—especially so soon after fighting off competition from Liverpool—would be regressive.

While there is a financial temptation, Chelsea’s challenge is to marry long-term squad development with immediate competitive targets. A stable midfield is essential for both, and unless a replacement of equal quality is already lined up, selling Caicedo would likely generate more questions than answers.

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For many Chelsea fans the potential sale of Moises Caicedo just won’t sit right.

This is a player Chelsea fought hard to sign, hijacking Liverpool’s long-standing interest and making him one of the most expensive transfers in Premier League history. Now, less than two seasons in, to even consider selling him—especially to a league not competing at the top of Europe—would be both surprising and disappointing.

Sure, £100 million is tempting. But this isn’t a fringe player or someone nearing the twilight of his career. Caicedo is 23, a cornerstone of the current squad, and playing in every match speaks volumes. He’s precisely the sort of player Chelsea need if they want to build a sustainable winning side—dynamic, reliable, and still improving.

Letting him go now would risk destabilising the balance Maresca has just started to establish. And what message would it send to fans and the dressing room? That no one’s safe? That Chelsea are a stepping-stone club again?

Al-Nassr’s interest is understandable. But from a supporter’s viewpoint, Chelsea should politely but firmly shut the door on this one.