Moises Caicedo is absent from Brighton training as the midfielder tries to force through a move to Chelsea

Moises Caicedo with was absent from Brighton training today as he tries to force through his move to Chelsea.

Chief executive Paul Barber, however, had earlier stressed the club expect him to be available for their Premier League opener at home to Luton Town on Saturday. 

Caicedo, who joined Brighton from Beerschot in 2022 for £4.5m, was not involved in their friendly on Sunday against Rayo Vallecano.

It comes as Brighton and Chelsea have been locked in a stalemate, with the Seagulls last week rebuffing an £80million offer from the Blues to sign the Ecuadorian, but it appears they are set to step up their attempts to sign him once again. 

Prior to that, Roberto De Zerbi’s side had also previously pushed back on a £70m offer to sign Caicedo, with the club notably holding out for the London club to meet their valuation of £100m. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s (pictured) side had an £80million offer for the Brighton midfielder rejected last week 

Roberto De Zerbi’s (pictured) side are hoping to keep hold of the midfielder and hope to get £100m for him

At the start of 2023, Arsenal had tabled a £70m offer to sign the 21-year-old, while also agreeing personal terms with Caicedo, before pulling out of the deal.

At the time, the midfielder was said to be desperate to force through a move to the Gunners or Chelsea and handed in a transfer request to leave Brighton.

The Seagulls tied him down on a new contract earlier this year in a bid to ward off potential suitors, but De Zerbi has also recently told Chelsea to stay-away from his star man. 

Caicedo (pictured) also played no part in Brighton’s pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano at the weekend 

Caicedo labelled Chelsea ‘as a beautiful team’ earlier this summer while also claiming ‘he could not say no’ to the Blues. 

This season, he featured in all but one of Brighton’s Premier League matches, scoring once and returning one assist, becoming a pivotal cog in the Brighton midfield, but at the same time, garnered himself the attention from several clubs around the league.  

Chelsea have been also eyeing up other potential midfield options alongside Caicedo and have been heavily linked with Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams.