Ecuador star, Moises Caicedo has reportedly rejected a chance to join Liverpool in favour of Chelsea, despite the Reds agreeing a British record £110m fee with Brighton for him.
The significant interest in Caicedo comes off the back of his first full season in English football, where he made 43 appearances in all competitions and stood out with his excellent reading of play, ball retention, and versatility. These traits saw him become a pivotal figure in Albion’s side, as they secured 6th place in the Premier League and qualified for European Football for the first time in their history.
It was reported earlier that Liverpool’s £110m offer was accepted by Brighton after a midnight deadline for bids for the midfielder was set on Thursday, August 10. It is understood Chelsea were prepared to go to £100m for the player, and Bayern Munich were prepared to pay £90m.
According to transfer analyst, Fabrizio Romano, the Brighton midfielder “only wants to join Chelsea,” and will only accept the personal terms he agreed with the London club in May. He added that Chelsea are “set to bid again in order to get [the] deal done.”
EXCLUSIVE: Moisés Caicedo has just informed Liverpool that he only wants to join Chelsea! 🚨🔵🇪🇨 #CFC
Caicedo has decided to keep his word and only accept Chelsea as personal terms were agreed since end of May.
Chelsea, set to bid again in order to get deal done with Brighton. pic.twitter.com/HI3geVVq9Z
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2023
The Ecuadorian midfielder is one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League and came close to leaving Brighton in this year’s January transfer window.
Since then, he has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but on Thursday, it seemed like Liverpool had managed to swoop in at the 11th hour to secure the 21-year-old’s signing.
But Caicedo has now reportedly informed Liverpool that he intends to ‘keep his word’ and only move to Chelsea, despite a medical being booked at the Anfield club.
Whoever he moves to, the deal would see The Seagulls make a substantial profit on the €5m they spent to sign the 21-year-old for from Independiente del Valle in February 2021.
