Report: Caicedo prefers Chelsea despite Liverpool agreeing to record £110M deal
The saga continues.
Moises Caicedo has informed Liverpool that he prefers to join Chelsea this summer despite the Reds coming to terms with Brighton & Hove Albion on a record-breaking deal, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
Jurgen Klopp said Friday that Liverpool had an offer for the midfielder accepted. It was widely reported Thursday night that the Reds won an auction for the Ecuadorian star by presenting Brighton with a monstrous £110-million package, which would constitute a new British transfer record.
But contract details were never discussed between the Merseyside outfit and Caicedo. The 21-year-old signed off on personal terms with Chelsea in May, according to Romano, and intends to follow through on that agreement.
Chelsea have seen multiple bids for Caicedo rejected by Brighton this summer. Their final offer at Thursday's auction was worth £100 million, according to Ornstein. After Friday's twist, though, the club is prepared to go back to the negotiating table. The Blues have subsequently abandoned a deal for Leeds United's Tyler Adams to prioritize their Caicedo pursuit.
It's unclear if Chelsea will match Liverpool's £110-million offer or if Brighton will accept anything less simply to satisfy Caicedo and put this protracted deal to rest. Enzo Fernandez's £106.8-million move to Chelsea stands as the current British record. Liverpool's benchmark is the 2018 acquisition of Virgil van Dijk, who arrived from Southampton for £75 million.
Moisés Caicedo: signed for £4.5 million in winter 2021, played 4,448 minutes across 53 games, sold for £110 million in summer 2023.
— Scouted Football (@scoutedftbl) August 11, 2023
Klopp's side has been keen on signing a new defensive midfielder following the departure of Fabinho to Al-Ittihad. The Reds also lost Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia, as their former captain signed with Al-Ettifaq.
Klopp had previously criticized other clubs for spending in excess of £100 million on a single player but conceded he needed to change his mindset due to the ever-inflating nature of the transfer market.
"Everything changed. Do I like it? No. Did I realize I was wrong? Yes," he said, according to France 24. "I'm not blaming anyone, but it's just the market. In the end, we as a club have to make sure that, with our resources, we get the best possible player."
Klopp also said the unexpected departures of Fabinho and Henderson for a combined £52 million forced the club into action. Liverpool, who have also been chasing Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia all summer, could return to those negotiations if they're unable to change Caicedo's mind.
If he accepts a move to Merseyside, Caicedo will be reunited with former Brighton teammate Alexis Mac Allister, who joined Liverpool this summer for a reported £35 million upfront. Together with fellow newcomer Dominik Szoboszlai, the trio could give Liverpool the revamped midfield needed to help lift the club back to the upper echelon of the Premier League table after last season's disappointing fifth-place finish.
Coincidentally, Liverpool visit Chelsea in each team's opening match of the new Premier League season on Sunday.