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UNMATCHED ENGINE: CAICEDO PROVES HE’S CHELSEA’S MOST VITAL PLAYER

After a rocky start, Moises Caicedo is now shining at Chelsea. Pundits like Joe Cole call him the "world's best midfielder," and his dominant stats prove his £115m fee now looks a steal for the Blues, who plan to keep him long-term.

Unmatched Engine: Caicedo proves he’s Chelsea’s most vital player
Caicedo rules the world’s midfield - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Caicedo has consistently performed well for the west Londoners after having a rocky start to life at the Blues following his £115 million move from Brighton.

He fought to regain possession of the ball and helped Joao Pedro in the first half, which was crucial to their 1-0 victory over Tottenham.

Alongside Declan Rice of Arsenal, Caicedo is considered by many to be one of the Premier League's top midfielders.

Cole, however, feels that his quality is superior on a worldwide level, to the point where Chelsea considers his nine-figure 2023 transfer fee to be a steal.

Chelsea star Moises Caicedo is referred to by Joe Cole as the world's best midfield player.


As he promoted his new book Luxury Player on talkSPORT Breakfast, he stated, "I think he is absolutely knocking on the door and possibly, he may be the no. 1."

"I think he is the best midfielder in the world between the two boxes," I recollect thinking when I watched him at Brighton.

"He is the greatest at breaking the lines and winning yards, which are key components of the contemporary game.

"He has amazing skill and is breaking up play, but I was wondering if he could score goals. Currently, he is including goals in his game. He is also growing as a leader on the other side of the field.

"In my opinion, he is Chelsea's most crucial player; if we were playing in the cup final tomorrow, I would want his name on the squad sheet before anybody else's.

"That £100 million now looks like a steal, and I think he is great."

Moises magic


Caicedo frequently covers every part of the field in both attacking and defensive situations, much like Chelsea great N'Golo Kante did.

Out of all the players in the Premier League this season, he has made the most interceptions—25.

In addition, Caicedo completed 90.8% of his 576 attempted passes and had a 73.1% success rate in dribblers tackled.

His reputation as one of the best midfielders in the nation is further supported by these stats, and former Blue Jason Cundy is a big admirer of him.

He claimed on The Sports Bar that "no one can touch him, he is the best at winning the ball back in the Premier League."

"He is an incredible machine, winning the ball, getting to balls he should not win, and winning balls he should not win."

The future of Caicedo at Chelsea


Caicedo consistently puts up outstanding performances; therefore, it is no surprise that other people are interested in him.

Despite being linked to Real Madrid, the 24-year-old is not interested in leaving Chelsea, according to people close to him who spoke to talkSPORT.

Additionally, Chelsea is unwilling to consider any offers for Caicedo, who is under contract at Stamford Bridge through 2031.

Since the end of the previous season, there has been a plan to reward him for his performances with better terms.

Chelsea's incentive-driven pay plan provides performance-based raises without requiring a complete renegotiation.

Caicedo has now made 112 club games and recorded seven goals and eleven assists.

LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY

Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.

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Liam Rosenior Shuts Down Enzo Fernandez Exit Rumours Before Vital Everton Clash

Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.

After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.

“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”

Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.

“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”

When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”

WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT

Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.

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Real Madrid And PSG Monitor Enzo Fernandez

Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.

His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.

People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.

Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.

Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.

Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.

You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.

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