Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool make approach for midfield kingpin and ready to rival Chelsea for summer transfer

Moises Caicedo Brighton September 2022

Liverpool have made an approach for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo and plan to rival Chelsea to sign the player next summer, claims a report.

Jurgen Klopp moved to strengthen his midfield at the end of the transfer window. The club signed Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus in a shock deal. But the 26-year-old, who featured from the bench in the defeat at Napoli, is not match fit.

The Brazilian has employed a team of fitness experts to help him get up to speed. But after a series of injuries last season the player could yet be weeks away from a place in Klopp’s XI.

Klopp was forced into the market after injuries to Thiago, Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones. That left him relying heavily on veteran James Milner and rookie Harvey Elliott.

It’s a scenario which has resulted in a slow start to the season and Klopp knows he has to reshape his midfield.

Both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita are out of contract next summer. Keita is believed to have started talks over a new deal, but Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to leave on a free transfer. And Henderson, 32, and Milner, 36, are coming to the end of their Anfield careers.

Jamie Carragher believes Klopp will have to add three or four new midfielders in a major overhaul. And it appears Caicedo could be one of those new recruits.

The Reds have been linked with the Ecuador international and the player opened the door on a big move recently.

Caicedo the man for Klopp?

Now, according to Football Insider:Liverpool and Chelsea both registered their interest in Caicedo before the transfer window shut on 1 September.”

Liverpool officials are tracking the progress of the 20-year-old, who has had a superb start to the season.

He has started all six of Brighton’s Premier League matches this season and scored in the 5-2 win over Leicester. He maybe a Premier League rookie but he has certainly looked like the dominant figure Klopp is pining for in his midfield.

The 23-cap Ecuador international is under contract until June 2025 and he will not come cheaply. Brighton sold Yves Bissouma to Spurs in the summer for £25m with £10m in add-ons. And it will no doubt take more than that to lure Caicedo, who has replaced Bissouma on the south coast.

Caicedo was brought to Brighton by Graham Potter in February 2021 for a reported £4.5m fee from Independiente del Valle.