Moises Caicedo’s agent admits that Jurgen Klopp tried to personally lure the £115 million midfielder to Liverpool but the former Brighton star had already decided to join Premier League rivals Chelsea.
By the time Liverpool submitted a club and Premier League record bid of £110 million in early August, the Ecuador international had made up his mind.
Despite Jurgen Klopp’s best efforts, Moises Caicedo already had his heart set on Stamford Bridge instead. He is, after all, a ‘Chelsea fan’.
At least, that is the assessment of Manuel Sierra, owner of the Football Division Worldwide agency and the man who played a major role in what would eventually become the most expensive transfer in the history of English football.
Moises Caicedo chose Chelsea over Liverpool
“It’s true he (Klopp) talked to Moises,” Sierra tells Football Transfers. “And it’s an honour such an important (manager) talked to him, expressing him his desire for Moises to join Liverpool. But Moises decided that he wanted Chelsea long ago, before Liverpool came in the last days.
“He has been always a Chelsea fan.”
Liverpool, per The Athletic, reached an agreement with Brighton before Chelsea slapped a further £5 million onto Paul Barber’s table.
“Obviously, when a giant like Liverpool wants you, it’s always an option,” Sierra adds. “But because of the respect we have with Chelsea, and the support they were showing us since January without stopping for a day, we thought they had to have the chance for a very limited time to match Liverpool’s offer to Brighton.
“They did it. (They) even went over.”
A partnership blossoming at Stamford bridge.
After a sluggish start to life at Chelsea – the £150,000-a-week Caicedo gave away a penalty on his debut against West Ham United – the 21-year-old appears to have turned a corner of late, excelling alongside fellow £100 million-plus acquisition Enzo Fernandez in Monday’s comfortable 2-0 West London derby victory over Fulham.
