'Barca asked' - Moises Caicedo's agent confirms Catalan giants made enquiry for midfielder before £115m Chelsea move

Caicedo swapped Brighton for the Blues in a deal rising to £115 million, edging out Premier League rivals Liverpool in a bidding war. While the Ecuadorian international headed to Stamford Bridge, his agent Manuel Sierra alleges that Spanish giants Barca were tracking the former Beerschot loanee but it quickly became clear they could not afford him.

“Yes, Barça asked. Barça asked, but it was an inaccessible subject for them. It was clear. In the end, with the Fair Play issue and so on, it was a complicated issue,” he told Spanish publication AS.

"But yes, they did ask us and well, that’s where it stayed. There was no official offer; there were only soundings. The normal thing in the markets.”

Caicedo signed in a British record fee last summer but he has flattered to deceive at the west London team so far. The superb form he showed at Brighton has not been evident under Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino but as he is on an eight-year contract the 22-year-old has plenty of time to turn his fortunes around.

Former Independiente del Valle star Caicedo, who played in his side's goalless draw with Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, will next be in action away to table-topping Liverpool on January 31 in the Premier League.