Chelsea exploring alternatives to Caicedo and Onana over price tags

• Chelsea is exploring alternatives to transfer targets Moises Caicedo and Andre Onana
• The reason behind the consideration is because of the price tag of the two players set by their respective clubs
• Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia has been mentioned as an alternative to Caicedo 

Chelsea is considering alternative targets to Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Andre Onana from Inter Milan due to concerns over their high price tags. The club is preparing for another expensive transfer window but is more cautious about spending excessively, unlike during the first year of Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership when they spent nearly £600 million on new players.

Nicolas Jackson, a striker from Villarreal, is close to securing a £30 million move to Stamford Bridge as a cheaper alternative to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who is valued at over £100 million. In light of the escalating costs, Chelsea is now exploring more affordable options for both Caicedo and Onana.

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Brighton is demanding close to £100 million for Caicedo, a fee that Chelsea is reluctant to pay. As a result, Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and Inter’s Nicolo Barella have been mentioned as potential alternatives. However, Chelsea remains interested in Caicedo and will continue negotiating for a lower fee.

Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is a summer transfer target for Chelsea. | PHOTO: Premier League |

READ: Brighton considering selling Moises Caicedo in the summer transfer

Inter is holding firm on their asking price for Onana, whose future is linked to that of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, as Lukaku aims for a permanent return to the Serie A side. With the deal proving complex, Chelsea is considering other goalkeeper options and has not ruled out starting the season with Kepa Arrizabalaga as the primary goalkeeper. Among the alternatives being considered are Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili and Brentford’s David Raya. AC Milan’s Mike Maignan is also an option, but his high cost may exceed Chelsea’s budget.

While Chelsea is willing to make significant investments in the squad this summer, they recognize that player sales will play a crucial role in determining their budget moving forward. Mateo Kovacic is on the verge of joining Manchester City, and Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, respectively. Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hakim Ziyech, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are targets for Saudi Arabia.

In addition to seeking new signings, Chelsea is also looking to offload Romelu Lukaku. Players like Trevoh Chalobah, Cesar Azpilicueta, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Christian Pulisic face uncertain futures as the club evaluates their options.