Manchester United Turns To £80m Midfielder To Frustrate Chelsea’s Plans After Their Refusal To Sell Mason Mount

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In a surprising twist, The Times now reports that Erik ten Hag has identified Brighton’s rising star, Moises Caicedo, as his top target.

This comes despite Brighton demanding £15 million more for the Ecuadorian than United’s valuation of Mount.

Caicedo has been on Chelsea’s radar for quite some time, particularly after Arsenal’s unsuccessful attempt to sign him in January.

Although Mount is known for his attacking prowess compared to the box-to-box style of the 21-year-old Caicedo, the Brighton midfielder is being considered as a potential replacement for the Blues star.

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Despite recently signing a new contract following the collapse of his move to North London, Caicedo is expected to depart from The Amex this summer.

While Arsenal remains interested, their primary focus remains on outbidding Manchester City for Declan Rice.

Liverpool also lurks as an outsider for Caicedo’s signature, although rumors suggest that the player favors staying in the south and potentially moving to the capital.

United’s Potential Disruption of Caicedo Deal For Chelsea to pursue Caicedo, it is believed they must first offload Mount for Financial Fair Play (FFP) purposes. However, Manchester United could throw a wrench into that plan by attempting to lure the Brighton star instead.

READ ALSO: Chelsea Working On Hijacking Manchester United £64.5million Target

Chelsea is in dire need of midfield reinforcements following the departures of N’Golo Kante and Matteo Kovacic.

Additionally, several other key players at Stamford Bridge are expected to leave this summer as part of a major squad overhaul under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag acknowledges the necessity of revitalizing the midfield at Old Trafford with younger talent, considering that Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are both over 30 years old.

READ ALSO: Double Blow For Man Utd As Arsenal And Chelsea Threaten To Hijack Their Option No 2 After Collapse of Priority Transfer Target

Although the Dutchman had hoped to secure the services of Juventus’ Rabiot, the 28-year-old midfielder is reportedly on the verge of signing a contract extension with the Italian club, as confirmed by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

United’s intensified pursuit of Caicedo not only thwarts Chelsea’s ambitions but also sends a clear message to the Blues about their handling of the ongoing Mount saga.

With negotiations ongoing, both clubs are keen to strengthen their midfield options and navigate the intricacies of the transfer market to achieve their respective goals.