Chelsea missing out on Moises Caicedo in £110m transfer blow provides opportunity to youngsters ahead of Liverpool clash

Chelsea have missed out on the signing of Moises Caicedo, who is set to join Liverpool for £110 million this summer, but the disappointment provides a huge opportunity to young players.

Mauricio Pochettino previously admitted that those involved in the Blues’ pre-season tour were under consideration for a place in his Chelsea squad this season.

He said: “We need to add some player there (midfield). We need one more with experience.

“That is the idea. We are working, the club is working on that. At the moment we are working to reinforce that area and other areas also.

“The players that are here on the tour are in our plan.”

Andrey Santos was no doubt the most impressive of the youngsters to feature in the double six alongside Enzo Fernandez, while Lesley Ugochukwu was signed from Rennes this summer.

While both players have been heavily linked with loan departures during the transfer window, they remain at the club and in contention for a starting place on Sunday when Chelsea face Liverpool.

The Blues have shown a switch in strategy this summer as Pochettino reportedly snubbed a reunion with Neymar.

Chelsea are no longer the side to splash £100 million on the latest talent to emerge in Europe to fix their problems.

Instead, they transformed their scouting department and appointed experienced heads who have previously identified such talents at lower level clubs.

Santos has received plaudits all around the world and is one of the most highly rated midfielder talents in his age group.

The Brazilian may have thought that he would be competing with Caicedo for a place in Chelsea’s starting XI this season, but now this could all change.

There is every chance that Santos will be handed the responsibility next to Enzo in Chelsea’s midfield for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday.

A good performance would go a long way to showing Pochettino and the Chelsea board that, given time, Santos could prove to be worth just as much as Caicedo is now.

With just 45 Premier League appearances under his belt, Caicedo is set to move for £110 million to Liverpool.

If the likes of Santos or Ugochukwu are handed similar opportunities, they could flourish and prove just why Chelsea have transformed their model this summer.

Nicolas Jackson was preferred in attack to a big-name, elite European incoming for over £100 million and has so far impressed in pre-season.

While Tyler Adams is set to arrive this week, and could be joined by Romeo Lavia, if Santos is handed the opportunity against Liverpool, the Brazilian could show maturity beyond his years and boost his chance in the future of Chelsea’s midfield.

Fans may be disappointed in missing out on priority target Caicedo, but the future is bright with so many young midfielders coming through at Chelsea.

This is without mentioning Lewis Hall, who is set to depart on his first loan move this week, and Cesare Casadei, who is thought to be close to joining Leicester City on loan.

The Blues will be just fine long-term without splashing a British-record transfer fee on Brighton’s next gem.