Roberto De Zerbi has received assurances from Tony Bloom, the owner of Brighton, that Moises Caicedo will remain this summer unless Chelsea match their asking price.
Following the departure of midfielders N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is eager to welcome Caicedo to Stamford Bridge.
The Ecuadorian international is valued at almost £100 million by Brighton, who have already turned down two approaches from Chelsea, the first for £60 million and the second for £70 million.
Although De Zerbi has been promised that, as things stand, the 21-year-old will be a member of his team once more next season, Chelsea hopes to wear down Brighton.
Last year, Caicedo was one of Brighton’s key contributors as he helped the Seagulls reach Europe for the first time by helping Brighton finish sixth in the Premier League.
‘I spoke with Tony Bloom and he told me if the condition don’t change, Moises stays with us,’ De Zerbi said at a press conference on Friday.
‘For me, it should be great news because it is difficult to find another great player. If Moises leaves, we have to find another player of the same level.
‘At the moment, I have not received news that Caicedo can leave tomorrow or in the next week. I start next season with Caicedo in my head in the first XI for sure.’
Chelsea is eager to add players to Pochettino’s roster after the team finished last season in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Caicedo and Blues defender Marc Cucurella were teammates at Brighton, and Cucurella thinks Caicedo is aiming for a summer transfer to west London.
Asked about Chelsea’s pursuit of Caicedo last week, Cucurella said: ‘I think he wants to come here, I’ve read in the media a lot of times.
‘For me, I have a really good relationship with him because we played together at Brighton. He’s a top player, a good midfielder, if he came here I think we’d have a top midfielder for a long time.’
As they prepare for their Premier League debut against Liverpool on August 13, Chelsea will continue their preseason schedule with a friendly match against Brighton this weekend.