Chelsea are set to open contract negotiations with Moises Caicedo.Chelsea are set to open contract negotiations with Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea are set to open contract negotiations with Moises Caicedo. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Moises Caicedo still has another six years left on his Chelsea contract, yet the club are readying a new offer.
Chelsea are set to enter contract negotiations with midfield maestro Moises Caicedo, despite the 23-year-old having another six years left on his current deal.
The former Brighton man has been imperious in the centre of the park for the Blues this season and has deservedly been named both Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season. Caicedo is looking to be worth every pound of the staggering £115 million spent to bring him to Stamford Bridge in 2023.
News of contract talks come as somewhat of a surprise. Chelsea have been active in extending current deals with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson signing new contracts last summer but Caicedo’s current contract remains less than two years old.
Chelsea to enter Moises Caicedo contract negotiations
The Telegraph also adds that the midfielder is set for a 20% pay rise should Enzo Maresca’s team qualify for the Champions League with that pay packet boost guaranteed without the player having to sign a new deal. GiveMeSport claimed Caicedo’s current salary is £150,000 per week and that figure could reach £180,000 next term.
Confirming contract plans, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano added: “Chelsea plan to open talks with Moises Caicedo’s camp over new deal as they’re very happy with his impact again this season. Negotiations have not started yet and it will take some time as not urgent topic, but club plans to give Moises a new contract.”
With such a long time still to run on his Chelsea contract, there has not been much talk of a transfer exit for Caicedo but Football Insider did suggest last month that Saudi Arabian clubs could offer more than £100 million to sign the player. Middle East outfits are not afraid of making controversial transfer moves and revel in the publicity that comes with them - Al-Ittihad reportedly bid £150 million for Liverpool man Mohamed Salah in 2023.
Saudi Arabia clubs could offer £100m+ for Chelsea midfielder
Former Premier League scout Mick Brown told Football Insider: “Now, though, the financial situation is starting to play a part in their decisions. I don’t think Caicedo will be at the top of their list of players to sell, but I also don’t think they’re going to rule out his exit.
“If they receive an offer from Saudi Arabia which is around the price they paid for him, so probably about £100 million, it’s something they’ll take very seriously. That money would then be invested elsewhere in the squad because they still need improvements.”
It does point towards a potential release clause being included in Caicedo’s new contract. While Chelsea could ensure that only a lucrative fee could facilitate transfer speculation by doing that, throwing a gauntlet down for Saudi clubs is a risky game to play.
Wolves made a similar move in extending the contract of Matheus Cunha in February. The striker, on paper, committed his future at Molineux to 2029 but his exit this summer seems imminent - the Midlands club effectively used those negotiations to bake in a guaranteed transfer fee of £62.5 million via a release clause.
On a business model, if that’s what Chelsea are doing, it makes sense but the big-spending Saudi clubs are not to be messed with.
In other news, Arsenal and Chelsea £51m target delivers 18-word transfer verdict.
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