Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could finally jump in the transfer market to find a solution to his midfield crisis. The German has as many as four of his first-team midfielders out with long term injuries. Thiago, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all set for long spells on the sidelines. With limited options in the midfield, Liverpool are eyeing a last-minute swoop in for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
Caicedo has caught the eye of every club from the Premier League’s top six after his majestic performances for Brighton. The Seagulls had snapped him up from Ecuadorian side Independiente for £4.5 million in the winter market of 2021. Caicedo was then sent on loan to Belgian club Beerschot six months later, only to be recalled by Brighton boss Graham Potter in January earlier this year. Liverpool are now plotting to secure the services of the 20-year-old before the deadline day.
Graham Potter asserts Caicedo not for sale in a big blow to Liverpool
Caicedo has earned the accolades of many of the Premier League clubs alongside the top six, in his short spell so far with Brighton. He made 10 appearances in all competitions for the club last season, scoring a goal and providing two assists. A versatile player, Caicedo can operate as a defensive, central and left midfielder, which has reportedly attracted the Reds’ attention who are searching for the ‘right player’.
The 20-year-old’s eight out of ten games last game came in the Premier League where he tallied 2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 9 passes under pressure, 1.2 shot-creating actions, 17.2 presses and zero errors per game. Caicedo could cover Thiago’s absence feels Klopp who wants the club to strike a deal for him before the deadline day of Thursday, September 1.
However, Brighton are unlikely to sell their Ecuadorian talent given he has impressed massively in such a short time. This season as well, he has featured in the starting eleven of all four of Brighton’s league games so far, resuming his routine of delivering robust performances. As a result, Brighton manager Graham Potter has told the club to not consider any offers from any potential suitors for the midfielder.
Talking about the same, Potter said: “In football you never know, but we are quite calm and confident. You’d probably get his [Moises Caicedo’s] boots for that from the chairman — maybe! £100m? They can try. It doesn’t surprise me that people are looking at him, because he is playing at a fantastic level. He is a top, top kid, a great person, and has all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level.”
As evident, it would need Liverpool to shell out a significant fee to acquire Caicedo before the deadline day. Brighton have already lost their star midfielder Yves Bissouma to Tottenham earlier this summer for a fee of £26 million. Its quite certain that are unwilling to green light the sale of another of their bright talents.
Potter continued: “..[But] The position that the club are in is that we don’t want to lose him and we don’t think we will. He has all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level. But we don’t want to lose him and we don’t think we will.”
Liverpool won’t have an easy go in their pursuit of Caicedo as Brighton have cleared their stance of not anticipating his sale. The Reds will have to keep their alternatives ready if they are to reinforce their midfield and provide more options for Klopp to choose from in that department.