Caicedo: Liverpool’s £110m British-record transfer Explained.

Moises Caicedo has been heavily linked to Chelsea but Liverpool, on Thursday night agreed a British-record transfer worth £110m with Brighton for the player.

Here’s How the Story went.

Chelsea were chasing Moisés Caicedo, while Brighton played brinkmanship. The Blues indulged the Seagulls with bids after bids, not prepared to meet Brighton’s £100 million plus valuation. 

Chelsea were the only known club on the scene, despite the amateurish attempt by Brighton to pretend some mystery club are in for Caicedo - a ‘news’ that the Blues appropriately ignored.

Meanwhile, Liverpool were pursuing Roméo Lavia, who plays in a similar position as Caicedo for Southampton. Southampton according to reports, wanted £50 million, which truly is a modest and fair fee for someone of Lavia’s talent, but Liverpool were “dragging leg” and saying in their last bid they want to pay £45 million. 

While all this was going on, Chelsea kept sending subliminal messages to Brighton. They signed a young defensive midfielder in the form of the 19 years old Lesley Ugochukwu, who plays in the same position as Caicedo but put out the news that he would likely go on loan. 

The Blues then went after Tyler Adams of Leeds, another young, talented defensive midfielder and triggered his transfer fee. Again, this was sending a message to Brighton that they are looking at alternatives.

Paul Barber, the Brighton CEO buckled when he had to address the fact that Caicedo has had enough and is refusing to train because he wants the Chelsea move. He left enough room for compromise, but not enough for Chelsea to jump right back in with a new bid, which he was expecting. 

Now, what did Chelsea do? 

22 days before the closing of the window, Chelsea Signaled they were prepared to meet Southampton’s valuation by bidding £48 million for Lavia and jumped right in front of Liverpool, Considering that both teams are starting the Premiership season playing each other. 

According to reports by super journalist, Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea were ready to go for the £100m valuation of the Seagulls. 

𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 ?

Brighton reportedly set a deadline for bids to be sent in for Moises Caicedo for midnight on Thursday as they would go with the highest bidder provided their valuation for the player was met.

According to reports, Chelsea were ready to go for the £100m valuation of the Seagulls, while Bayern Munich, as per Fabrizio Romano gave indications to pay £90m for Moises Caicedo after they called Brighton to be informed on Caicedo situation but didn’t follow up with a bid. Liverpool's offer of £110m however, was unmatched.

Brighton wanted Moisés Caicedo saga to be over in 24 hours — by the end of the week in any case. 

The Seagulls decided to sell Moisés Caicedo to the highest bidder — which will then be up to the player’s preference.

Liverpool contacted Brighton and confirmed that they will bid for Moisés Caicedo. This happens after Chelsea £48m bid for Roméo Lavia was rejected by Southampton. 

Chelsea however, also remained in the pursuit of Moisés Caicedo with their bid and with the possibility to improve that proposal if they want. The Blues wanted to keep their ‘dream’ to unveil Caicedo as new signing at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile Liverpool went with an unmatched bid worth £110m for Caicedo as they feel it’s good chance after they had three bids rejected for Roméo Lavia.

Reports claim that there will be a sell-on clause included in the deal. Brighton signed Caicedo in 2021 for £4.5m from Independiente del Valle. 

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐨 ?

Even though Caicedo had previously expressed interest to join Chelsea, Klopp will now be speaking to him, as Caicedo is expected to travel to Liverpool for a medical on Friday. 

Caicedo who was said to favour a move to Chelsea, was in London on Thursday, with his representatives. The Ecuador international is said to be having second thoughts about a move to Liverpool after the meyside outfit agreed a British-record transfer fee with Brighton and Hove Albion for the midfielder, Sky Sports News reports. 

Sources have said Chelsea may return with more than £110m that Liverpool made to Brighton for Caicedo, as the player favours the Stamford bridge outfit. 

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 ? 

Without thinking it too much, Chelsea have knocked out Liverpool in the race for Lavia and that could determine how both teams do this season.

Liverpool have now bid £110 million, while Chelsea have met the original £100 million, but Brighton have said they are selling to the highest bidder and even though Caicedo had said he wants to join Chelsea, Klopp will now be speaking to him. 

They have even already booked a medical for Caicedo. The only thing now is no one knows if Chelsea are going to try and outbid Liverpool now!

Sources have also not ruled out Chelsea trying to outdo Liverpool by returning with more than £110m. There has long been an expectation they would get the deal done.

Sunday, Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 🆚 Liverpool 🤯