Liverpool joy after £70m Prem ace reaches decision on ‘future move’, as Chelsea transfer fail heightens need to act fast
A Brighton midfielder Liverpool have reportedly already bid £62m for is ‘preparing for his future move’, though two trusted sources have warned of the threat posed by Chelsea.
The engine room is unquestionably the position Liverpool must address next. Virgil van Dijk’s hamstring injury has heightened talk of a move for a Man Utd-linked centre-half, though their hunt for fresh faces in midfield will take priority.
On that front, Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham remains Jurgen Klopp’s primary target. However, the England ace, 19, won’t be available until next summer at the earliest.
A January move for Wolves’ Matheus Nunes has recently come back into focus. The Reds were heavily linked with Nunes prior to his £38m move to Molineux and speculation is growing he could be on the move once again just six months later.
However, Liverpool have now been alerted to another Premier League midfielder whose future may also lay away from his current club.
Brighton’s Moises Caicedo has been a rock under both Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi this season. The 21-year-old featured heavily for Ecuador at the World Cup and his stellar displays have seen his value rise to around £70m.
Reports out of Ecuador claimed Liverpool had seen a £62m bid for the midfield destroyer knocked back in late-December. If the Reds’ interest has maintained, they’ll like the sound of Fabrizio Romano’s latest update.
Caicedo preparing to leave Brighton?
The transfer guru tweeted Caicedo has already made his mind up and is poised to hire new agents.
Manuel Sierra and Ali Barat will be tasked with guiding his future from now on and Romano added Caicedo is “preparing for his future move”. In other words, Caicedo is poised to employ two agents who’ll find him a way out of the AMEX.
Caicedo’s age and profile perfectly match what Liverpool are seeking in midfield. He’d bring a physical presence, energy and a willingness to press.
Furthermore, multiple additions may soon be required given James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all off contract at season’s end.
The Daily Express term him ‘ideal’ for the right side of Klopp’s three-man midfield. However, both Romano and Ben Jacobs have fired a Chelsea-shaped warning.
Chelsea transfer fail could spark Caicedo move
The Blues’ attention with regards to midfield additions so far in January had been hoovered up by Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez.
However, Benfica manager Roger Schmidt recently teed off on the Blues and lambasted the way in which they’ve conducted their pursuit and turned Fernandez “crazy”.
On the back of that, Romano recently said via his YouTube channel: “For now, the [Fernández] negotiation is off.
“There is no new meeting scheduled, but let’s wait a few days to see how Chelsea reacts.
“Chelsea are now focused on other players; let’s see if they return for Enzo, but they have an eye on other midfielders, one of whom is Moisés Caicedo.”
Chelsea’s interest in Caicedo was also detailed by CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs late last month.
“Moises Caicedo to Chelsea is one to watch,” said Jacobs. “There is a real sense, from multiple sources, Chelsea may move for him.
“Graham Potter when still at Brighton joked £42m would only ‘get his boots’. Brighton want around £70m-£75m.”
With Fernandez seemingly off the table amid souring relations with Benfica, forging a reunion between Potter and Caicedo at Stamford Bridge could be the logical next step for Todd Boehly.
Of course, Liverpool could have a say in the matter.
READ MORE: Liverpool desperation prompts ‘call’ to Man Utd target who’s already held secret transfer meeting
