Moisés Caicedo has informed Liverpool that he only wants to join Chelsea.
Transfers guru Fabrizio Romano reported that Caicedo 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.”
Earlier Friday, Liverpool Manager Jürgen Klopp had confirmed that Liverpool and Brighton had reached a deal for Caicedo to move to Anfield.
“I got told I can confirm the Moisés Caicedo deal is agreed with the club,” Klopp said.
Liverpool agreed a British record transfer fee of £111 million or Sh20.2 billion with Brighton for the midfielder.
After Brighton rejected a succession of bids from Chelsea, it remained to be seen whether the Blues would match that amount. Brighton had set a fee in excess of £100m for Caicedo and had said they felt no one would match it.
However, Liverpool FC have now done that, which leaves the Ecuadorian international free to undergo a medical at the Kop.
This deal breaks the Merseyside club’s transfer record of £75m for Virgil van Dijk paid back in 2018.
It also shatters the British record transfer fee, an accolade previously held by Chelsea when they splashed £107m on Enzo Fernandez.
For Reds fans, it immediately alleviates their growing concerns on replacing the mass exodus of outgoing midfielders.
Not only did they lose skipper Jordan Henderson, but they also saw defensive midfielder Fabinho leave Anfield for Saudi Arabia too.
As far as Liverpool’s starting midfield looks on paper, Caicedo sitting alongside both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai gives Jurgen Klopp’s side a major boost in their quest for more silverware.
The premier league new season starts on Friday, August 11.
