An update has emerged on Chelsea and their efforts to improve their options in the middle of the park during the January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to Times journalist Duncan Castles, Brighton value central midfielder Moises Caicedo at a whopping £100m and are not keen on cashing in on the gem this month, after rejecting an offer of £55m from the London club.

Reporter Dean Jones has also revealed that the Blues could make an improved offer to sign the Ecuador international, as he told GIVEMESPORT:

“There’s a possibility that they will go in with an increased offer for Caicedo this week."

Enzo Fernandez alternative

Chelsea have been linked with a swoop to sign Benfica star Enzo Fernandez, who has a £105m release clause in his contract with the Portuguese side, and could land a dream alternative to the Argentine international by matching Brighton's £100m valuation of Caicedo either this month or in the summer.

The Argentina World Cup winner has been in fine form in Liga Portugal as he has averaged 3.3 tackles and interceptions and 1.8 key passes per game, whilst completing 88% of his attempted passes.

Caicedo, who is one year younger than Fernandez, has made an eye-catching 4.3 tackles and interceptions and 1.1 key passes per outing in the Premier League and has completed 88% of his passes.

These statistics indicate that both players are box-to-box midfielders who can make an impact at both ends of the pitch, by winning possession back for their side on a regular basis whilst also being a creative threat when they have the ball at their feet.

However, Caicedo has an edge over Fernandez as the gem has proven that he has the quality to perform week-in-week-out in the Premier League, whilst the Argentine dynamo has not played in a major European league yet in his career.

The Brighton gem was once dubbed a "terrific athlete" by South American expert Tim Vickery and talent scout Jacek Kulig previously hailed him as a "revelation" in the English top-flight.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 across 18 appearances in the division for the Seagulls in 2022/23, which would place him seventh in the current Chelsea squad.

This indicates that the 21-year-old has the quality to make an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge, given that he has proven his ability in England already, whereas Fernandez could need time to settle into life in a new country and there is no guarantee that the gem would suit the Premier League.

Therefore, Caicedo would be a dream alternative to the Benfica midfielder and Graham Potter should push to sign the young talent this month, or in the summer if they are unable to get a deal over the line in the coming days.