A few years ago, any player in the world would have done anything to play at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp but right now, Moises Caicedo seems interested in playing for Chelsea instead of Liverpool.
The Anfield outfit have gone against their principles and agreed on a £111 million deal with Brighton but according to Fabrizio Romano, Caicedo has his heart set on joining the Blues. The Blues are expected to return with an improved bid which is why the defensive midfielder has rejected Liverpool’s approach.
Romano said in an exclusive update: “Moisés Caicedo has just informed Liverpool that he only wants to join Chelsea!
“Caicedo has decided to keep his word and only accept Chelsea as personal terms were agreed since end of May. Chelsea, set to bid again in order to get deal done with Brighton.”
This is a massive blow for Liverpool and because Romano is seldom wrong, it’s safe to say Chelsea will come up with an improved bid very soon and secure Caicedo’s signature.
Back in 2016 when Manchester United had spent £89 million on Paul Pogba, Klopp had very boldly claimed that his club will never make such a massive financial signing.
“The day that this is football, I’m not in a job anymore, because the game is about playing together,” Klopp had said. “Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players. I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money.”
Now, when reports of Liverpool agreeing to pay £111 million for Moises Caicedo had emerged the German manager confessed that the market is out of control.
“Everything changed,” he told the press on Friday. “Do I like it? No, but did I realise I was wrong? Definitely. Definitely. That’s the way it goes. It’s not great, it’s not top. Saudi Arabia will not help with that. I’m not blaming it, but another market with a lot of money.
“In the end, we as a club, we have to try make sure that we, with our resources, get the best possible team together. We try everything to bring together the best squad for us, and we are not in dreamland, so it’s not like we can just point at players and bring them in.
“If people want to throw my quotes from five or six years ago at me, no problem. That’s what I thought that day, and I realise now I was wrong, easy to admit that.”
What happens if Liverpool miss out on Moises Caicedo?
It looks like the Liverpool manager has spoken too early because Moises Caicedo does not want to join the Merseyside outfit. Brighton will be loving this battle because they have been very clear that they will not accept anything less than £100 million for the midfielder. They have already bagged £111 million and if Chelsea are coming back then the Seagulls will get even more money.
It’s very evident Liverpool have badly fallen out of grace because Moises Caicedo is choosing to join a team which finished 12th in the Premier League last campaign instead of a team which will be playing in the Europa League this season.
Liverpool will find it really hard to digest but they have no time to sulk because they have signed only two players this summer. Klopp’s team had dropped their interest in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia but now, they are likely to go back for the 19-year-old.
The Saints want £50 million for Lavia and since Liverpool had agreed to pay £111 million for Moises Caicedo, Lavia’s transfer fee should not be an issue for them.
