Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has asserted his plan to have midfielder Moises Caicedo in his squad for the upcoming season despite interest from Chelsea, who had a £70 million bid rejected recently. The 21-year-old has been a long-term target for Chelsea, and Arsenal also attempted to sign him in January.
Speaking during the Premier League Summer Series in the United States, De Zerbi stated that he had spoken with club owner Tony Bloom, who informed him that unless conditions change, Caicedo will remain with Brighton.
De Zerbi emphasized the importance of keeping a player of Caicedo's caliber, as they aim to compete at their best in the upcoming season, especially after qualifying for European competition by finishing sixth in the Premier League last season.
There have been reports that after Caicedo signed a contract extension in February, there was a verbal agreement between De Zerbi and the player that he could leave Brighton in the summer transfer window.
However, De Zerbi denied such claims, stating that he is only a coach and not involved in ownership or transfer decisions. He clarified that at the moment, there has been no indication that Caicedo will be leaving the club anytime soon, and he is considering the player as part of his starting lineup for the next season.
While acknowledging Brighton's position as a club that may have to sell players eventually, De Zerbi maintained that he has not received any information about Caicedo's imminent departure. As of now, his intention is to have Caicedo as an integral part of the team for the upcoming campaign.
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