CHELSEA have received a major transfer blow in their bid to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo.
According to Sky Sports, the Blues are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on Caicedo, but face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool.
And the Seagulls' CEO Paul Barber has delivered a further blow to their hopes of landing the midfielder in the January transfer blow with a jest to Chelsea manager Graham Potter.
Potter coached the Ecuador international during his time as Brighton boss and previously claimed that a reported bid of £42million from the West Londoners wouldn't be enough.
In fact, the 47-year-old tactician claimed that amount would probably only buy Caicedo's BOOTS.
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But Barber has made it even harder for the Stamford Bridge outfit as he now claims that fee would probably not even be enough to purchase his SHOELACES.
The Brighton chief has also claimed that there haven't even been any offers for the 21-year-old.
According to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs, Barber told him: "I’m pleased to say we haven’t had any [offers for Caicedo]. Maybe they haven’t got my email because I haven’t seen any."
Barber added: 'I’m not sure £42m will even include the boots now, maybe just the laces. But joking aside, every player’s value is ultimately determined by the market.
"Graham’s comments were part in jest but part serious because Moises has been an exceptional player for us. Since he came to the Premier League, he has developed all the time.
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"He’s a young man with a great attitude, fantastic work ethic, and a very nice human being off the pitch.
"So all those things contribute to the value of a footballer should it come to that moment to sell."