21-year-old won’t be joining Liverpool, he’s set to go to their PL rivals instead – journalist

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Reported Liverpool target Moises Caicedo has decided that he’ll join Chelsea from Brighton this summer.

Caicedo has been a rumoured transfer target for Liverpool since before the turn of the year. His impressive displays for Brighton have marked him out as one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders.

There were reports as recently as earlier this month that the Reds could still make a play to sign the Ecuadorian. But now, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg on Twitter, any move would now be redundant: Caicedo has made his decision.

“News Caicedo: He has decided to join Chelsea FC! Final negotiations now,” Plettenberg wrote last night.

Fellow journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed this news with an update of his own a few hours later.

“Chelsea are advancing on Moises Caicedo deal,” he wrote, as well on Twitter. “Talks progressing on the player side, contract proposal made — personal terms close to being agreed. Deal not done yet — it will take time. Chelsea expect to negotiate for £80m fee. Pact with De Zerbi will guarantee to leave.”

Caicedo set to end transfer speculation

For a long while, it looked like Brighton might play hard-ball and demand over £100m for Caicedo this summer. The Seagulls appeared determined not to lose the Ecuador international as well as Liverpool new-boy Alexis Mac Allister.

But in the end, it looks like Caicedo’s desperate desire to move on has left them with no choice. The enormous £80m fee will at least soften the blow.

From a Liverpool perspective, it’s hard not to feel slightly frustrated by it all.

Yes, we’re delighted with Mac Allister. The fee is fantastic and the 24-year-old looks like a very good fit for what Liverpool need right now. Arguably though, bringing in a player of Caicedo’s profile is even more important.

Some fans will also be annoyed by the circumstances surrounding the Reds’ non-move for the 21-year-old. It’s clear that the £80m price-tag isn’t something Liverpool want to pay having missed out on Champions League football.

But Chelsea won’t be in the Champions League next season either. In fact, the Blues failed to qualify for Europe full stop. They’ve also spent somewhere in the region of £600m in the past year, paying some gigantic fees along the way.

That hasn’t exactly worked out well for them. But it still should be said that paying these kinds of fees once in a while shouldn’t be beyond Liverpool. Inevitably though, when a player is going for a price like this, we know the Reds won’t be involved. That’s disappointing.