Chelsea to drop Adams transfer to fund Caicedo deal

Chelsea are doing everything they can to retake control of Moises Caicedo’s pursuit after Liverpool overtook them in the race this morning.

Brighton & Hove Albion have accepted the Reds’ monstrous £110 million bid for their prized asset, inflicting a massive transfer blow on Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Having found themselves on the back foot, the Blues are working around the clock to outbid Jurgen Klopp’s team, with their newest £110 offer falling short of the Merseyside giants’ proposal.

According to Dharmesh Sheth’s latest update, Chelsea have called off their endeavour to sign Leeds United’s Tyler Adams despite triggering his £20m release clause yesterday.

The highly-rated USMNT midfielder was already on his way to London for a medical, but he’s now set to return to Elland Road after the Pensioners pulled the plug on the deal at the 11th hour.

Pochettino’s decision to drop his interest in Adams is a last-ditch attempt to raise funds for Caicedo’s arrival amid Liverpool’s genuine effort to hijack the Ecuador international’s move to Stamford Bridge.

However, the 21-year-old is keen to join Chelsea, having defined personal terms with the west London outfit a month ago, reinforcing Pochettino’s hope of landing his top midfield target.

Undeterred by an agreement between Brighton and Liverpool, the Ecuadorian has been reluctant to leave London for Anfield before handing the Blues one last chance to compel the Seagulls to sanction his switch to the capital.

Even though Liverpool scheduled his medicals for today, Caicedo and his representatives are still in London, hoping Chelsea can find common ground with Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

With the 2023/24 Premier League kick-off hours away, time has become a critical factor, with all parties seeking a quick resolution for one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the summer.

If Chelsea get Brighton’s go-ahead, Liverpool could reignite their bid to sign Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, whose future has been one of the major talking points in recent months.