Liverpool are said to have launched a proposal for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo that is higher than Chelsea’s latest offer.
The West Londoners have led the battle to capture Caicedo all summer and have had numerous bids for the 21-year-old refused down by Brighton, including their most recent offer around £80 million.
Brighton are said to be demanding at least £100 million for the Ecuador international, who has stated his desire to quit the Seagulls this summer.
Chelsea are thought to be anxious to complete a deal for Caicedo with Brighton by the end of the week, but they now face stiff opposition from Liverpool, according to The Telegraph, who claim that the Reds have made a late attempt to hijack the Blues’ pursuit of the midfielder.
According to the report, Liverpool outbid Chelsea and have waited until now to formalize their interest in the teenager with an official bid after keeping tabs on him since the beginning of this year.
The bid is said to be a British record as per sources, it is more than what Brighton demanded as £115M is put on the table.
Although Caicedo wants to leave, Brighton are under no obligation to sell the midfielder, who signed a new four-year contract in January that will keep him at the American Express Community Stadium until June 2027.
Caicedo joined Brighton for £4.3 million from Independiente del Valle in February 2021 and has since evolved into one of the Premier League’s brightest prospects, appearing 53 times for the Seagulls in all competitions.
Liverpool and Chelsea are not the only clubs interested in Caicedo, according to the source, as Bayern Munich is also considering a summer move for the midfielder.
The German giants, on the other hand, are understood to be prioritising a club-record move for striker Harry Kane, and have apparently reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to sign the England captain for more than €100 million (£86.4 million).
Caicedo’s interest from both Liverpool and Chelsea comes at a time when the two teams are also competing for the signature of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
Liverpool are said to have had three bids for the 19-year-old rejected down by Southampton, including their most recent offer of roughly £45 million, but Chelsea are said to have stepped in with a £48 million approach for the £50 million-rated teenager.
Jurgen Klopp has already added two new midfielders to his team in Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister, but the Liverpool manager is set to make more signings following the exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
Chelsea, however, are currently short on midfield choices, with Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher the only senior alternatives available to Mauricio Pochettino.
Although Caicedo remains Chelsea’s primary midfield target, the Blues are said to have activated the £20 million release clause in Leeds United’s Tyler Adams’ contract, who is likely to undergo his medical within the next 24 hours.
For more Sports updates please follow us on Twitter
