Chelsea reportedly have no intention of bowing to Brighton & Hove Albion's alleged demands over Moises Caicedo.
In January, the Seagulls rejected multiple offers from Arsenal to retain the services of the Ecuador international, who subsequently penned a new contract and helped his club qualify for the Europa League.
However, head coach Roberto De Zerbi made a pact with one of his star men, promising that he would be allowed to leave the American Express Community Stadium for the right price in the summer.
Although the Gunners are no longer in the market for Caicedo, Chelsea are pushing hard to secure the signature of the 21-year-old.
Caicedo is allegedly keen to make the switch to Stamford Bridge, despite the lack of European football for 2023-24, but the relevant hierarchies are yet to reach a compromise over a fee.
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At one stage, it appeared that a proposal worth in the region of £80m would be enough to tempt Brighton into a deal, with that fee exceeding what was on offer from Arsenal six months ago.
Nevertheless, according to The Guardian, Brighton increasing their valuation to £100m has created the potential for an impasse between the two clubs.
The report indicates that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have no intention of succumbing to those new demands, which have been set due to the finances involved in Declan Rice's proposed switch from West Ham United to Arsenal.
Despite negotiations having been held throughout this week, it is claimed that they have slowed due to neither party being willing to budge from their current stances.
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Brighton have already allowed Alexis Mac Allister to join Liverpool, while discussions are further complicated due to Brighton's desire to sign Chelsea defender Levi Colwill.
On the back of the England Under-21 international's impressive loan stint on the South Coast, Brighton are pushing for a £40m deal, one which Chelsea have no interest in accepting.
As it stands, only Chelsea are in a position to pay big-money for Caicedo, Manchester United now seemingly out of the race courtesy of spending £60m on Mason Mount.
Mauricio Pochettino is eagerly to add another central midfielder to his squad having witnessed Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all join other clubs since his arrival.
Darren Plant
