Klopp comments on Caicedo saga after Liverpool's draw at Chelsea

13 August 2023 , 19:32

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Liverpool and Chelsea want to sign Moises Caicedo (Image: Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp remained tight-lipped about a deal for Moises Caicedo after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday.

The Reds were ready to break the British transfer record on Friday morning to sign the Brighton midfielder, but the move now remains in the balance after the Ecuador star showed a reluctance to join, with his preference still a switch to Chelsea

The Blues have chased Caicedo for much of the summer and eventually bid £100m, only to be outdone by Liverpool who were prepared to pay £110m - which would top the record fee paid for Enzo Fernandez by the Blues in January.

Liverpool and Chelsea played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, in a game that underlined why the Reds are in need of a midfield anchor following a summer exodus that has seen the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson leave the club.

Klopp admitted there was "no news at all" on the transfer chase when asked after the game, with the window having just a matter of weeks to run. Liverpool have been heavily linked with Romeo Lavia, who could also yet end up at the Blues. Southampton have stuck to their £50m price tag and have rejected several offers from the Reds.

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The German appeared confident that a move for Caicedo would get down when questioned on Friday, where he also defended previous comments he made about spending £100m on a single player. 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."

Klopp also added: "Everything changed. Do I like it? No. Did I realise I was wrong? Yes. That's the way it goes. Saudi Arabia will not help with that. In the end, we have to try and make sure we get the best possible team together.

"50 percent will like it and 50 percent won't. We are trying to bring together the best squad for us. We cannot just point on players and bring them in, there is a lot of work to do. Sometimes one door closes and another opens up. If people want to throw my quotes from five years ago, no problem. I realise I was wrong."

In the absence of a natural midfield anchor summer signing Alexis Mac Allister played in a less familiar role at the base of the midfield, which did cause Liverpool issues. Klopp though maintained that his team's defensive issues weren't down to the players selected.

Samuel Meade