Moises Caicedo closing in on joining Chelsea

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo has reportedly turned down a British-record transfer to Liverpool as he waits to join Chelsea.

According to Football Insider, Ecuadorian enforcer Moises Caicedo has his heart set on joining Chelsea this summer, despite Liverpool having a deal worth £111 million agreed with Brighton. The 21-year-old continues to be at the focal point of a wild transfer saga this week involving both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Despite having been linked to Chelsea all summer long and having agreed personal terms with the Blues for some time, it looked like Caicedo would be heading to Liverpool after a £111 million offer was accepted by Brighton in the early hours of Friday morning, which eclipsed the £100 million bid from the Blues, who have had multiple bids rejected by the Seagulls earlier this summer.

The Reds wanted to wrap up the hijack swiftly yesterday to prevent Chelsea from responding to the situation. They had plans for Caicedo to fly to Merseyside for a medical and discuss personal terms before putting pen to paper to complete a move that would make the Ecuador international the most expensive player in the history of English football.

Liverpool fans thought they were set to win the race to sign Caicedo after Jurgen Klopp confirmed a deal had been agreed, although the German boss was keen to stress that nothing had been finalised yet, with Caicedo due to undergo a medical and sign-off on personal terms.

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There has been a new twist in the tale just over an hour later, with multiple reports suggesting that Chelsea are preparing to raise their bid to at least match Liverpool’s in order to break the deadlock in negotiations with Brighton, while the Independent‘s Miguel Delaney is claiming that there is a belief at Stamford Bridge that “they have a superior offer to the player and that they can trump the Anfield club on price.”

Caicedo had been pushing to join Chelsea after leaving training with Brighton earlier in the week and was in London ahead wrapping up his move to Stamford Bridge, but was surprised when his parent club accepted the offer from Merseyside instead.

Now, as per Football Insider, the player himself has made it clear to Liverpool that his preference is Stamford Bridge, with the proposed Reds’ move now “100% off.”

This is certainly a positive development for Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino, as it sounds like the 21-year-old’s persistence to come to Stamford Bridge has swung the momentum back in the Blues’ favour.

Having received encouragement from the player’s camp, the Blues are willing to fork out the extra cash required to land him and are now closing in on a full agreement with Caicedo and Brighton.

With the Pensioners now focusing all of their resources on getting the Caicedo deal over the line, their deal for Leeds United star Tyler Adams has now collapsed. The USMNT international was in London for the first part of his medical after Chelsea triggered his £20 million release clause, but talks between the midfielder and the club have now broken down.