Liverpool face dramatic late hiccup as Caicedo makes transfer preference clear

11 August 2023 , 11:40

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Liverpool face dramatic late hiccup as Caicedo makes transfer preference clear

Moises Caicedo is having 'second thoughts' over joining Liverpool and still wants to join Chelsea - despite Jurgen Klopp confirming the Reds have agreed a fee with Brighton for the midfielder.

The Seagulls accepted a bid from Liverpool worth in the region of £110million for the Ecuador international on Thursday night. Chelsea had been considered the frontrunners to land the 21-year-old's signature and placed an offer of £100m themselves, only for Liverpool to swoop in and hijack the transfer.

However, the move could still yet not happen after Sky Sports claimed that Caicedo is having 'second thoughts' over moving to Liverpool this summer. The player and his representatives were still in London on Friday morning and had not travelled up to Merseyside for a medical.

Reports have since emerged that Caicedo has confirmed his intentions to move to Chelsea after agreeing personal terms earlier this summer. It is still unclear whether the Blues have returned with an improved offer, meanwhile.

Mauricio Pochettino has been eager to sign another central midfielder this summer, having lost Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount among others in a mini-overhaul. The club have seen several offers rejected by Brighton and are also set to sign Tyler Adams from Leeds for £20m.

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Liverpool, on the other hand, are desperate to add a new defensive midfielder to their ranks after losing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League, while James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all departed upon the expiry of their contracts in June. Arthur also returned to Juventus at the end of his loan spell.

Moises Caicedo is having 'second thoughts' over a move to Liverpool (Getty Images)

Speaking on Friday, Klopp confirmed Liverpool had agreed a fee with Brighton for Caicedo. He said: "The fee with the club is agreed. We will see what that means. We aren't a club with endless resources and we didn't expect a couple of things to happen this summer. Then it happened."

Caicedo isn't the only midfielder Liverpool have been looking at. The Reds have seen multiple offers rejected for Romeo Lavia, with the highest coming in at £46m, although that is still short of Southampton's asking price for the Belgium international. Chelsea entered the race to sign the 19-year-old earlier this week - but saw a £48m offer rebuffed by the Championship outfit.

Liverpool travel to Chelsea in their opening Premier League fixture of the season on Sunday. The Reds then host Bournemouth, before facing Newcastle to wrap up the first month of the campaign.

Kieran King