Newcastle United have been warned they will have to pay more than the previously touted £40m price tag for Moises Caicedo.
The Lowdown: Caicedo situation
Caicedo has been a revelation since arriving on the south coast, with his signing epitomising Brighton & Hove Albion’s clever transfer activity over the last couple of seasons.
Despite only playing Premier League and was previously linked with a move away in the summer, but former boss Graham Potter claimed a £40m fee would “probably get his boots”.
He’s continued to excel and has the majority of England’s powerhouses closely watching his next steps, with Newcastle reported by The Athletic as an interested party.
The Latest: Barber’s comments
Speaking on House of Champions, Albion CEO Paul Barber claimed that his value has now far exceeded the previous £40m tag and revealed his side’s determination to hold onto him.
He said: “I’m not sure that it would include the boots now, maybe just the laces!
“Joking aside, every player, ultimately, their value is determined by the market, and Graham’s comments were part in jest, but part serious, because he has been an exceptional player for us since he came into the Premier League.
“Developing all the time, a young man, great attitude, fantastic work ethic; very, very, nice human being off the pitch.
“So all of those things contribute to the value of a footballer when it comes to that moment.”
The Verdict: Huge offer
Brighton have made themselves a hub for talent production and shrewd recruitment over recent years with Ben White, Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma all leaving to different ‘big six’ sides over the past two years.
Unsurprisingly, you would imagine any push for the 21-year-old is likely to be met by staunch resistance due to his importance to the side, and following Yves Bissouma’s exit in the summer, Albion would be forced to replace yet another midfielder.
Although the Ecuadorian offers incredible talent and potential, The Sun has reported a fee of £70m is needed to prize him away, so you would think the Magpies could find two players for that price considering Bruno Guimaraes cost them just £40m alone.