De Zerbi takes SWIPE at Chelsea transfer target Caicedo as midfielder leaves Brighton
Tom Hancock
- 11 Aug 2023 14:55 BST
- 3 min read
Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi says he has ‘already forgotten about’ Moises Caicedo, as the midfielder seems set to join Chelsea.
The Ecuadorian has been at the centre of surely the most dramatic twist of the summer transfer window so far, choosing Chelsea after seemingly being on his way to Liverpool only hours earlier.
In any case, Caicedo’s current boss has accepted that he will be losing one of his star men – just a day before the Seagulls begin their 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
EXCLUSIVE: Caicedo REJECTS Liverpool as Brighton push against Chelsea transfer
Brighton accepted a British-record £111m bid from Liverpool for Caicedo on Friday (August 11) morning, before the 21-year-old reportedly told the Reds he was only interested in a move to Chelsea.
But De Zerbi doesn’t seem overly bothered by the whole sage. At his press conference ahead of his side’s season opener at home to Luton, the Italian said:
“I have already forgotten about Moises. I’m really proud of the players we have in the squad.
“We want to keep improving. The credit goes to the club. Bigger clubs can buy our players but they can't buy our soul or spirit.”
MORE: Brighton identify 'next Kante' as Caicedo replacement
"I have already forgotten about Moises. I'm really proud of the players we have in the squad.
"We want to keep improving. The credit goes to the club. Bigger clubs can buy our players but they can't buy our soul or spirit." #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/XZ8TVQSOot— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 11, 2023
Not another one!
This wouldn’t be the first time Brighton have lost a player to Chelsea in recent years: defender Marc Cucurella completed a £56m switch to the Blues this time last year – before that was trumped by Graham Potter’s decision to leave the Seagulls and succeed Thomas Tuchel in the Stamford Bridge dugout a month later.
But the Sussex club have defied the regular departures of their top players, replacing them superbly and going from strength to strength.
Last season, De Zerbi guided Brighton to the highest finish in their history – sixth in the Premier League, securing the Seagulls European qualification for the first time ever.
