Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo has admitted that it would be difficult to turn down the chance to reunite with Graham Potter at Chelsea.
Following the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel, Potter was appointed head coach at Stamford Bridge last week and took charge of his first game on Wednesday night, with the Blues drawing 1-1 at home to Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League.
Chelsea made nine summer signings before the arrival of Potter, and it is thought that they are prepared to back the Englishman in the next two transfer windows as they bid to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title.
Twenty-year-old Ecuador international Caicedo has recently emerged as a potential target for the Blues, while the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest.
Caicedo has become a first-team regular at the Amex Stadium since the turn of the year, but has admitted that it would be a "dream" to link up with Potter at Chelsea.
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Speaking to Argentine news outlet Ole, Caicedo said: "It made me very sad now that he [Potter] left for Chelsea, because he helped me a lot and I wanted to continue having him as a manager, but that's football.
"You never know: today you can be here and tomorrow somewhere else, that's the job of a footballer and a coach.
"At Brighton he worked very well and people love him very much. I'm very happy for him and for the great opportunity that was presented to him."
Caicedo added: "Right now I'm very focused on Brighton and the World Cup. I want to have a great World Cup and then we'll see what happens.
"I think they are one of the best teams in the world and nobody would turn down an offer from Chelsea or any other club like that. It'd be a dream to be in the best teams in the world and succeed there."
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Caicedo, who has three years remaining on his contract at the Amex Stadium, joined Brighton from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle for just £4.5m in February 2021.
The midfielder then moved to Belgium outfit Beerschot on loan for the first half of last season, before returning to Brighton in January and establishing himself as a regular under Potter.
Caicedo featured 11 times for the Seagulls across all competitions last term, including eight starts in their final eight Premier League fixtures.
The 23-cap Ecuador international has since started in all of Brighton's opening six top-flight matches this term and scored in the 5-2 victory at home to Leicester City at the beginning of this month – Potter's final game in charge.
Chelsea decided against a move for Caicedo over the summer and instead completed the signing of Denis Zakaria on loan from Juventus on deadline day.
Oliver Thomas
