Chelsea decide ‘top two transfer targets’ after scrapping Manuel Ugarte deal
Chelsea’s plans have hit a setback as Paris Saint-Germain is poised to beat them in signing Manuel Ugarte.
According to reports, Mauricio Pochettino has chosen the two midfielders he intends to pursue next, leaving Chelsea eager to recover swiftly from their disappointment in the early stages of the transfer window.
Despite earlier indications that Manuel Ugarte preferred a move to Chelsea over Paris Saint-Germain, recent reports suggest that PSG has increased their offer to a level that Chelsea is unwilling to match.
In the past, when co-owner Todd Boehly first took charge, Chelsea might have been inclined to offer more money. However, the club seems poised to abandon their pursuit of Ugarte as they are reluctant to pay significantly above his market value.
It was previously rumored that Chelsea was prepared to pay more than Ugarte’s £52 million release clause, leaving Mauricio Pochettino with ample funds to explore other alternatives.
According to TalkSPORT, Chelsea has redirected their focus to two players, Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Romeo Lavia from Southampton.
These players have been strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge for the past year. In January, Chelsea reportedly made a £55 million offer for Caicedo, but it was swiftly rejected by Brighton.
As for Lavia, Chelsea supposedly attempted to sign him last summer, shortly after Southampton acquired him from Manchester City, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
There is speculation that Manchester City still holds a £40 million buy-back option for Romeo Lavia, which can only be exercised in 2024. However, Chelsea could potentially make a move for the talented 19-year-old midfielder before that time. Lavia has already earned a call-up to the senior Belgian national team and impressed during his time at Southampton last season.
Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League means that Lavia might be available at a lower price. Given his promising performances, it seems unlikely that he would drop down to the Championship. Similarly, it is believed that Moises Caicedo’s departure from Brighton is almost certain, creating a potential opportunity for Chelsea to acquire him.
“I think it could have been the last game of Alexis [Mac Allister] and Moises [Caicedo],” explained Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi after a final-day defeat to Aston Villa. “I am really sorry because they are two great people and two great players.
“But the policy of Brighton is like this and we have to accept it. I think it is right they can leave, they can change teams and they can play at a higher level. We are ready I think. We have to find other big players to play without Alexis and Moises.”
Chelsea decide ‘top two transfer targets’ after scrapping Manuel Ugarte deal
