Liverpool have submitted British transfer record fees to acquire the services of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder, Moises Caicedo.
The Reds are set to complete a dramatic move for the Ecuadorian midfielder after the club agreed a club-record 110 million pounds deal for the Brighton player.
According to transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League club led by Jurgen Klopp have surpassed Chelsea in the race to secure the acquisition of the former Independiente del Valle player and are set to land the Brighton star in a deal reportedly worth £110 million.
Romano added that Caicedo will become Liverpool’s new player on Friday, 11th of August, 2023, if the deal goes through.
Football insiders also stated that the 21-year-old Ecuadorian international, who might have a medical as soon as Friday, appears to have been signed by the Reds ahead of Premier League opponent Chelsea.
The final price will be higher than the previous British record, which was £105 million paid by Arsenal to West Ham for Declan Rice’s acquisition earlier this summer.
Additionally, it will surpass Liverpool’s previous record transfer, set when they paid £75 million to Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018. Also, the Reds also paid a price tag of £85 million to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica in the summer of 2022.
What happened to Liverpool?
Liverpool have lost their prominent midfielders this ongoing summer transfer window leaving them with no option but to look for ways to bolster their midfield options with more productive players.
And Moises Caicedo has emerged as the potential replacement for the outgoing Liverpool players.
After allowing James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to go after their contracts expired, Jurgen Klopp’s team was always in need of a rebuild in the middle.
However, when both Fabinho and club captain Jordan Henderson left Anfield for a massive deal in Saudi Arabia, their midfield deficiencies reached almost an emergency level.
Chelsea suffered a huge blow in Caicedo’s pursuit
Chelsea, who made the first serious move earlier in the summer, appeared destined to sign Caicedo.
Caicedo, who has only played 45 Premier League games, is valued at £100 million by Brighton. The Blues had made two bids for the midfielder, but both fell short of that amount.
However, following Chelsea’s rejected bid for Caicedo, It has authorized Liverpool to attack and at the first agreement, they’ve taken off beyond the Seagulls’ asking price and look set to get the sale done.
Liverpool made a good start to the summer window by bringing in Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, who played with Caicedo at Brighton.
Caicedo who had been scouted by Manchester United transferred from the Ecuadorian team Independiente del Valle to Brighton & Hove Albion for £4.5 million, during the 2021 winter transfer window.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s focus may now go to Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, who appeared destined for a move to Liverpool.
Chelsea saw an opportunity to pounce on the Reds, who will play in the Europa League this season, for failing to meet Saints’ £50 million asking price for the 19-year-old player.
However, it’s anticipated that the Championship club will reject Chelsea’s most recent bid of £48 million.
Chelsea have appeared to have missed out on the race to sign Moises Caicedo, and if that turns out to be the outcome, it will be a major setback for the Stamford Bridge team.
What’s next for Chelsea and Liverpool?
The Blues will lock horns with the Reds at Stamford Bridge in their first game of the 2023/2024 English Premier League campaign on Sunday, 13th of August, 2023.
In addition, the teams’ cat-and-mouse antics will undoubtedly spice up Sunday’s season-opening showdown at Stamford Bridge.
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