Manchester United are preparing to launch a bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo after failing to sign Mason Mount.
The Red Devils submitted three offers for Chelsea star Mount, eventually rising to as much as £55million. Despite the England international, 24, having entered the last year of his contract, the Blues still value him at £65m, a price which United aren't willing to pay after seeing what's proven to be their final bid rejected.
Although their third offer still stands, manager Erik ten Hag and the club's recruitment team have turned to other midfield targets who they believe to be more attainable. Top of their list, according to the Times, is Caicedo.
The 21-year-old Ecuadorian was the subject of a short-lived battle between Arsenal and Chelsea in January, having handed in a transfer request at Brighton. Caicedo was denied a move away, though, and he soon made a U-turn by signing a new four-year deal.
Nevertheless, his future remains uncertain and on the final day of the season Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi admitted that his midfield dynamo may well have played his final game for the Seagulls. After Caicedo helped them reach the FA Cup semi-finals and qualify for the Europa League, United have rekindled their interest after failing to sign him from Independiente del Valle in 2021.
Brighton value Caicedo at a cool £80m, a fee which would make him United's joint-second most expensive signing in their history. Crucially, Ten Hag is said to be in agreement regarding his club's decision to walk away from negotiations over Mount and pursue Caicedo - and there are other irons in the fire at Old Trafford, too.
Have your say! Who'd be a better signing - Mason Mount or Moises Caicedo? Let us know in the comments section.
Despite recently dropping their interest in Tottenham talisman Harry Kane due to Spurs' £100m demands, United are still desperate to sign a new striker and will now up their efforts in that area. Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt and Atalanta hotshot Rasmus Hojlund are both being looked at, as is Ajax forward Mohamed Kudus, who Ten Hag has previously worked with.
In any negotiations, the Red Devils will want to avoid what they feel Chelsea were putting on them. It's added in the Times' report that United officials sensed that their Premier League rivals were attempting to add a 'Manchester United tax' onto Mount's asking price.
It was noted in talks that Chelsea have allowed Mateo Kovacic, another player whose contract expires in June 2024, to join Manchester City for only £30million. Kovacic is five years older than Mount and from abroad which is likely the Blues' reasoning behind the disparity.
Mount could now be forced to spend one final year at Stamford Bridge under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. It's understood that Pochettino appreciates the Englishman and hopes that the Chelsea hierarchy can convince him to sign a new long-term deal at the club.
