For Brighton: Jackpot! Brighton have done it again, taking Chelsea to the cleaners for a third time in a year. However, this transfer is on a whole other level to the deals they agreed with the Blues for ridiculously overrated full-back Marc Cucurella and former manager Graham Potter, who was sacked after less than a season at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool’s desperation to sign a defensive midfielder undeniably helped, as it created a bidding war that Todd Boehly & Co. were never going to back away from. Caicedo is a fine player – he could become a great one – and he has the ability to have a transformative effect on Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield, but he is simply not worth £115m from an objective perspective. So, congratulations to Brighton, they’ve once again played an insane transfer market perfectly. A satisfying signing given Liverpool’s interest. The fee is absolutely outrageous given Caicedo has played just 45 Premier League games, but Chelsea have been paying mad money since the takeover, so it’s not really that much of a surprise. They clearly don’t care about cost. Some more sales are now absolutely essential in order to avoid any FFP problems – but, evidently, they are confident of balancing the books before the close of the transfer window. For now, they’ll be just basking in the praise they’re receiving from the club’s fans for signing such a coveted player.Some serious expectations to meet. At 21 years of age, and with so little top-level experience under his best, Caicedo has just become the subject of the biggest transfer fee in Premier League history – he is under intense pressure to show why. And it will not be easy to slot seamlessly into a team with so many new components, one that is also still getting to grips with the demands of Mauricio Pochettino. But Chelsea have a policy of buying young players of enormous potential – and Caicedo certainly fits the bill. He plays with a composure and intelligence that belies his age, so he is actually well placed to become a big hit at the Bridge.
Sports
Chelsea paying £115m for Moises Caicedo is outrageous – Brighton have played them again: GOAL grades 2023’s biggest summer transfers
All summer long, GOAL’s Mark Doyle will be handing out grades for the biggest transfers from around the world
For some football fans, the off-season is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most, as that can only mean one thing: It’s time for transfers! Over the next weeks and months, the biggest names will be linked with the biggest clubs, with speculation set to go into overdrive.
We all know that some transfers turn out well for all parties involved, but there are plenty where at least one of the clubs, or even the player, are left wondering what might have been had they made a different decision while at the negotiating table.
GOAL is here, then, to ensure you know who did the best out of every massive deal before the ink is even dry on the contracts. Throughout the summer window, we will be grading every done deal as it happens, letting you track the big winners – and losers – of transfer season.
