Brighton CEO Takes a Swipe at Chelsea Following Moises Caicedo Transfer; Liverpool's Interest Also Highlighted

Brighton's chief executive has aimed at a dig at Chelsea after Moises Caicedo signed for the Blues in a British-record £115 million move.

Caicedo had been a priority target for the west London club since last season ended but Chelsea had a number of bids knocked back by Brighton.

The Ecuador international was always desperate to join Chelsea and had agreed personal terms a long time ago.

Quite the saga ensued when Liverpool tabled an £110 million bid that was accepted on Friday.

Caicedo's preference was always to join Chelsea, however, and he ended up signing an eight-year contract after rejecting the Reds.

The two-time Champions League winners announced his signing with the caption, "It’s only ever been Chelsea".

Paul Barber, Brighton's CEO and deputy chairman, has confirmed that Caicedo only ever had eyes for Chelsea but appeared to make a thinly veiled dig.

Moises Caicedo signs for Chelsea

"Liverpool is a fantastic football club, for any footballer to have a chance to play at Anfield, you’d imagine they would be running up the M6 and M62 but it wasn’t to be," he told talkSPORT.

"Moises and his advisors, for whatever reason, decided London was their preferred destination and ultimately Chelsea.

“Obviously in that situation we’re in a slightly difficult position because we negotiated a deal, we spent many days working with Liverpool to get a deal agreed and they couldn’t have done any more.”

Brighton's record sale continues their incredible run of buying players and selling them for profit, following on from the likes of Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Trossard and Robert Sanchez.