Move over Roméo Lavia talks, the Liverpool vs Chelsea battle for Moisés Caicedo has well and truly taken over as one of the most speculated transfer stories this summer. The Reds well and truly broke the internet when it was announced that they’d offered a British record fee of £111 million for the Brighton star this week.
However, the latest twist in this saga has revealed that Caicedo only wants to leave if it is to go to Chelsea, despite Liverpool and the Seagulls agreeing on the eye-watering price. This naturally scuppers Liverpool’s chances of bringing the midfielder to Anfield and adding new options to their now depleted engine room.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho’s exits to Saudi Arabia have left a big hole in the team and unless they make some new signings fast, Liverpool will be taking on the new Premier League season with 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic as their only natural No.6.
Although, they may be willing to raid Brighton’s squad regardless, even if it’s not for Caicedo. Jurgen Klopp’s side have already brought in Alexis Mac Allister from the south coast this summer and now, Caicedo talks aside, they are also said to be interested in Pervis Estupiñán as they eye up potential defensive targets as well.
That’s according to Football Transfers, who report that Liverpool have ‘expressed a concrete interest’ in signing the left-back. Klopp is said to be ‘a huge fan’ of the Ecuadorian and sees him as a potential replacement for Andy Robertson when that time comes.
Liverpool were apparently offered Estupiñán before he joined Brighton last summer, but the Reds believed they had enough options in his respective position moving into the 2022/23 season. The left-back role has now become an area the team want to add to though, and Estupiñán has now been made ‘one of their main targets’ despite midfield being the key area of concern.
What a 24 hours it has been. At the same time yesterday, Liverpool fans would have been fearing the worst — Chelsea had just submitted its own bid for Roméo Lavia (The Athletic), and it seemed a distinct possibility that Jürgen Klopp would miss out on his ideal number six.
At that stage, reports had emerged that Liverpool had made contact with Brighton over Moisés Caicedo, but considering the Seagulls’ valuation, it seemed nothing more than a pipe dream for many. How wrong we were.
READ MORE: Roméo Lavia ‘still wants Liverpool’ after Moisés Caicedo transfer move as clause added to deal
READ MORE: Jürgen Klopp breaks silence on Moisés Caicedo as Liverpool boss confirms $140m transfer
Liverpool has now conclusively demonstrated its very real interest in Caicedo by agreeing a $140m (£110m/€127m) deal with Brighton (The Athletic). The move is far from over the line, however, with Chelsea doing its utmost to ‘re-hijack’ proceedings, and set to lodge an improved offer (The Times).
If Caicedo does become a Liverpool player, though, the Reds will have achieved a similar feat to the one that saw them land a certain Virgil van Dijk back in 2018. The importance of the deal cannot be overstated.
Of course, back then, things were marginally simpler. Van Dijk had his heart set on a move to Liverpool for some time, and despite the Reds being thwarted in their attempts to sign him in the summer of 2017, it appeared just a matter of time before the Dutchman sealed his move to Anfield.
