Liverpool and Brighton agree on Moises Caicedo transfer, pending completion

Liverpool has reached an agreement to buy midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton for a reported record fee of £110 million ($140 million). However, it remains uncertain whether Caicedo will join Liverpool or move to Chelsea, who have also shown interest.

Liverpool Football Club has reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to acquire Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The reported deal is worth a staggering £110 million ($140 million), which would break the record for the highest transfer fee in British football history.

During a press conference ahead of Liverpool's opening Premier League game against Chelsea, Klopp confirmed that the deal with Brighton has been agreed upon. However, it remains to be seen whether Caicedo will be convinced to join Liverpool.

At 21 years old, Caicedo has yet to finalize personal terms or undergo a medical examination. There are also reports in the British media suggesting that the midfielder would prefer a move to Chelsea, who have shown interest in him throughout the summer transfer window.

When asked about Caicedo, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino did not confirm whether the club was still pursuing the midfielder. He simply stated that he wanted to add a midfielder to his squad.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed his indifference towards Caicedo, stating that he has already moved on from the situation. He emphasized his pride in the current squad and the club's determination to continue improving. De Zerbi also highlighted that while bigger clubs may be able to buy their players, they cannot buy the spirit and soul of Brighton.

If Caicedo does join Liverpool, it would mark a significant overhaul of their midfield during the offseason. The club has already signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from Leipzig. Additionally, five midfielders, including Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, have left Liverpool this summer.

The potential transfer fee for Caicedo would surpass the initial £100 million, plus add-ons, that Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice last month. This initial fee matched the British-record sum that Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.

Regardless of whether Caicedo ends up at Liverpool or Chelsea, his journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has only played one full season for Brighton since joining from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in 2021. Caicedo spent the first half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Beerschot in Belgium. Despite this, he has emerged as one of the most sought-after midfielders in English football, with Chelsea's long-standing interest and multiple offers being outbid by Liverpool.

Caicedo is known for his defensive abilities, ball control, speed, and intense pressing. These attributes align with Klopp's preferences, as he aims to rebuild Liverpool's midfield and mount a strong title challenge after finishing outside the top four last season.

Klopp emphasized that the signing of Caicedo is not yet a done deal for Liverpool. The club has financial limitations and unexpected departures, such as those of Henderson and Fabinho, have created unforeseen circumstances. Klopp acknowledged that they will have to wait and see what happens with Caicedo.

If the transfer is completed, Brighton will have received a total of around £150 million ($190 million) from Liverpool this summer for the acquisitions of Mac Allister and Caicedo. This aligns with Brighton's strategy of scouting and purchasing players at lower costs, only to sell them for significant profits.

Klopp concluded by stating that they will take the process step by step and see what unfolds in the coming hours or days. The footballing world eagerly awaits the outcome of this high-profile transfer saga.