Chelsea on red alert as Brighton make huge double summer transfer hint amid Colwill admiration

Chelsea have been put on alert ahead of the summer transfer window after Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi’s latest admission on the futures of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister.

Interest was shown in January for Caicedo by both Chelsea and Arsenal, but Brighton held firm despite the midfielder’s desire to leave and eventually they tied him down to a new deal. Meanwhile, Mac Allister, who won the World Cup with Argentina, is wanted by Chelsea and Liverpool this summer.

Chelsea have already raided Brighton in the last 12 months following the hiring, and firing in April, of Graham Potter. Marc Cucurella was also signed from the Seagulls last summer which saw Levi Colwill go the other way on loan as part of the deal.

Brighton are on course to qualify for the Europa League next season after an impressive Premier League campaign, but with success comes interest from the top clubs in their players.

Caicedo and Mac Allister are two of many players on the radar of clubs ahead of the summer window and De Zerbi has confirmed, reluctantly, that they could lose both of the Chelsea linked players in the upcoming transfer window.

“For sure we will lose some players, maybe Caicedo and Mac Allister,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports after Brighton’s 3-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

“We have to be ready to bring in more good players and for the others; Mitoma, Estupinan, I think for them the best solution is to stay with us.

“I don’t know if they are ready to play in the big teams. You have to arrive ready in the head. We can offer them the possibility to progress and to improve.”

Chelsea are looking to strengthen in midfield this summer, as well as a new goalkeeper and striker, with Mauricio Pochettino to be appointed as the club’s next head coach which will see him oversee a squad overhaul.

One player which Pochettino will welcome back into the fold is Levi Colwill. He has impressed on his loan spell down on the south coast. The 20-year-old put in another brilliant defensive display against Arsenal.

The reported summer plan is to hand the Englishman a new deal when he returns to Chelsea. Brighton would be interested in retaining his services for next season and beyond after De Zerbi admitted last week: “I would like to work with him for another two, three, four years because it’s difficult to find another left centre-back with his qualities.

“He’s a good guy, he’s improving a lot. This year his improvement has been fantastic and I hope he can stay with us.”