The stakes are getting high for the acquisition of Moises Caicedo. He has reportedly informed Liverpool that he will only join Chelsea this summer, despite the Reds agreeing a record-breaking £110m fee with Brighton.
The Ecuador international reached an agreement on personal terms with the Blues some time ago and they have long been considered to be favourites to sign him.
That all changed yesterday when Liverpool tabled a bid of £110m for Caicedo – which would have been a new British transfer record fee.
Brighton accepted that offer and everything pointed towards Caicedo making the switch to Anfield. However, the 21-year-old’s future has once again taken a dramatic twist.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are set to make another bid for Caicedo, which is expected to be higher than the £110m that Liverpool offered.
The newspaper since Todd Boehly has no problem with spending huge sums on players, especially affter splashing out £107m on Enzo Fernandez in January, which is still the British record fee, it now seems Chelsea could once again break the transfer record with their bid for Caicedo.
Jurgen Klopp has now received a second monumental blow, with the midfielder refusing to join Liverpool, as he wants to keep his word and join Chelsea.
According to reputed transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Caicedo has informed Liverpool that he won’t be signing for them despite agreeing a £110m fee.
On Twitter, Romano wrote: “Moises Caicedo has just informed Liverpool that he only wants to join Chelsea!
“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.”
Chelsea will still have to match or improve on the £110m fee that Liverpool have agreed with Brighton. But everything now points towards Caicedo joining the Blues in one of the most dramatic developments in the transfer window.
This will come as a huge boost to Mauricio Pochettino, after Chelsea have lost the likes of Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante this summer.
Caicedo therefore looks set to play a vital role for the Blues this season. As for Liverpool, they will now have to switch their attention to other defensive midfield targets.
The most likely alternative to Caicedo is Romeo Lavia, for whom the Reds have already seen a £45m offer rejected by Southampton.
Chelsea have also bid £48m for the Belgian, but with Caicedo on his way to Stamford Bridge, Liverpool are expected to become favourites to sign the Saints midfielder.
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