Liverpool have just proved that the transfer of Moisés Caicedo is a reality, as agreed by FSG from 140 million dollars.
Liverpool and Brighton have agreed a $140m transfer deal for Ecuador midfielder Moisés Caicedo, with Chelsea outbid the 21-year-old.
Suddenly, the rebuilding of Liverpool’s midfield has shifted gears.
Jürgen Klopp is “protecting” Reds owner FSG, Gary Neville hinted earlier this week, but news that Moisés Caicedo is on track to hit an all-time British high could change that perception.
The former Manchester United man won’t be the only one looking a little silly with this incredible turn of events.
In the early hours of Friday morning UK time, The Athletic broke the story that Liverpool had outbid Chelsea for the 21-year-old Ecuadorian and agreed to pay Brighton a sum of US$140m (£110m/€127m).
Personal terms with the player have not yet been agreed but it is expected to be a formality.
A medical is due to take place today, with Brighton deciding to set a deadline of midnight UK time between Thursday and Friday to clarify the future of a player they signed from Independiente del Valle in 2021.
Caicedo would need to sign by 12pm UK time today (4am on the US East Coast and 7am on the West) to qualify for Liverpool’s opening game of the new season – which of course takes place against Chelsea on Sunday.
Adding another layer to transfer history.
Even if Caicedo cannot play a role in this game, there is a good chance that the South American will play a crucial role for the Reds.
After all, FSG and the club’s recruitment team have approved a move that is by far a club record – $44m (£35m/€40m) more than Virgil van Dijk and around $30m (£23m/€27m) more as whatever Darwin Núñez will cost even if he triggers all agreed add-ons.
However, after Fabinho was oversold and Jordan Henderson was also lost, Liverpool needed to get this signing right. In Caicedo, despite the price, it is likely to have happened.
Along with Alexis Mac Allister – acquired from Brighton for around a third of the price from Caicedo – and Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool have a brand new trio of $261m (£206m) midfield players who should be able to match world football, assuming the final chord passes smoothly.
Liverpool have gone from having a defensive midfielder arguably to the best they’ve had this summer, showing FSG were looking for value before approving a transfer, rather than a reluctance to spend money.
The reality is that the money was there for the right player but Liverpool will only spend big if they feel it is 100% justified.
Southampton’s Romeo Lavia has been the subject of three offers from Liverpool and it remains to be seen what happens next with the 19-year-old Belgian, whose asking price of $64m (£50m/£58m) euros) seemed inflated.
Caicedo’s sample isn’t exactly huge, with just 45 appearances for Brighton, but Liverpool must feel worth paying.
If a deal crosses the line for Caicedo, it would immediately make Liverpool title contenders again, showing exactly why the right time to assess the success of a transfer window is no more than three weeks before the deadline.