Chelsea fullback Marc Cucurella is backing their move for former Brighton teammate Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea are locked in talks with Brighton for the Ecuador midfielder after having a £70m offer turned down.

Cucurella said from the US this morning: "I read in the media that he wants to come here a lot of times! I have a good relationship with him because I played with him in Brighton. He is a top player and if he came here I think we would have a top midfielder for a long time."

Cucurella followed Graham Potter from Brighton and was asked if he had spoken to his former manager since his dismissal by Chelsea.

"For any player in the team when a manager is gone it is not good. The players play if we are asked, so if the team loses it is a problem but it easier to get rid of one coach than 20 players. It is not easy.

"I speak to him and text him sometimes and we have Bruno here and I have a really good relationship with him because he helped me a lot when I came to Brighton. For sure it is not easy but lots of times he is part of the life. He need to rest and find the new chapter to improve. They bring me the opportunity to play Premier League. He did not show his level but for me he is a really good manager."