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Caicedo 2.0: Chelsea hold talks to sign "one of the best CMs in the world"

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Published May 27, 2026, 7:10 AM GMT+1

Robbie is the Assistant Editor at Football FanCast.

Having graduated from the University of Exeter in 2020, Robbie spent time working as an intern or in freelance positions across a variety of sites, including at 90min, producing news and feature content related to clubs in the Premier League, EFL, SPFL and in Europe.

Robbie subsequently spent over a year working as a news, features and opinion writer at Football Faithful, primarily focused on the Premier League and Manchester United, in particular.

After beginning life at Football FanCast as part of the company's academy set-up in 2022, Robbie has risen through the ranks to now taking on the role of Assistant Editor since October 2023, having also been part of the Exclusives team in the past.

Across the last few years, Robbie has covered Manchester United, Celtic and Rangers on a regular basis, alongside a raft of other clubs, boasting an in-depth knowledge of the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football in general.

Robbie is a Manchester United fan, but also has a particular fondness for both Celtic and Wycombe Wanderers, taking in a multitude of home and away games for the Chairboys over the last two decades.

There may be those seeking to flee a sinking ship at Chelsea, but not Moises Caicedo, the Ecuadorian sensation still firmly wedded to the cause at Stamford Bridge.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion man, who shunned Liverpool to secure a marquee £115m switch back in 2023, will remain front and centre for the long-term, the type of player new boss Xabi Alonso can build his team around.

The question remains as to who will partner him in that midfield unit, however, with the Blues seemingly eyeing up potential targets who could slot in seamlessly at the Bridge.

Chelsea open talks to sign £87m-rated midfielder

Even with Alonso now at the helm, the talk surrounding Enzo Fernandez's future is unlikely to go away, with a possible exit for the Argentine only heightening the need for reinforcement.

Andrey Santos is yet to convince on a consistent basis, while Romeo Lavia has been hampered by injury over the past few seasons, ensuring a marquee, midfield addition remains a necessity.

Reports have already claimed that Chelsea could be among the clubs to pounce on West Ham United's misfortune by moving for Mateus Fernandes, although the Portuguese playmaker isn't the only Premier League target on their list.

Indeed, as per journalist Simon Phillips, Sandro Tonali is among the names to have been discussed amid talks with Newcastle United officials.

The Magpies are interested in the likes of Liam Delap and Josh Acheampong, ensuring there could be the prospect of players moving in opposite directions, with Tonali among them.

The Italian's future has long been a talking point at St James' Park, with reports last week indicating that he could be on his way to Manchester United on an £87m deal.

Chelsea need to pounce.

Why Tonali could be another Caicedo at Chelsea

Buying Premier League-proven talents hasn't always paid off for the BlueCo regime - looking at you Raheem Sterling and Alejandro Garnacho - although it has paid off big when it has worked out, be it in the case of Cole Palmer or Caicedo.

Despite an initial slow start, Caicedo is now firmly in the mix when it comes to the best in his position in the division or in Europe, even hailed as the "best midfielder in the world" between both boxes by Joe Cole.

Tonali, it must be said, has received similar billing at Newcastle, described by his agent, Beppe Riso, as "one of the best midfielders in the world", following his fine work on Tyneside to date.

PL's most valuable midfielders

Player

Value

via Transfermarkt

Rice	£104m
Palmer	£95m
Caicedo	£95m
Wirtz	£95m
Szoboszlai	£86m
Fernandez	£78m
Gravenberch	£78m
Zubimendi	£69m
Tonali	£69m

A disrupted first season has been quickly forgotten, with the 26-year-old such a force when at his best, an old-fashioned, all-action midfielder who thunders around the middle of the pitch.

Like Caicedo, he's not necessarily prolific, having not scored at all in the Premier League this season, although when he does convert, it is often in spectacular style, as seen in his FA Cup double against Aston Villa earlier this year.

There's a powerhouse quality to his game that is certainly akin to the Chelsea star, with Tonali averaging 4.2 ball recoveries per game in 2025/26, just shy of Caicedo's 5.4 average for that same metric.

Such a terror in a high-press midfield, the former AC Milan star isn't so easily bypassed in a defensive sense either, having been dribbled past just 0.7 times per game, level with Caicedo's own average.

newcastle-tonali-guimaraes-premier-league

When signing the South American, BlueCo went big on a player who had already proven their worth at Premier League level with Brighton, thus acquiring an instant upgrade for the long-term in west London.

While Tonali is a more experienced figure, there would certainly be a similar feel to a deal this summer, with such a signing potentially one which could galvanise the struggling Blues heading into next season.

At a reported £87m, the Newcastle man won't come cheap, although like with Caicedo's capture, sometimes paying a premium is worth it for such a premium midfielder.