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Caicedo rejects Liverpool’s £111m bid for Chelsea

Moises Caicedo has rejected the chance to join Liverpool and wants to move to Chelsea, despite the Reds agreeing a British-record £111 million fee with Brighton.

Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, disclosed this on his Twitter account on Friday.

Romano tweeted: “Moisés Caicedo has just informed Liverpool that he only wants to join Chelsea!

“Caicedo has decided to keep his word and only accept Chelsea as personal terms were agreed since end of May.

“Chelsea, set to bid again in order to get deal done with Brighton.”

Liverpool’s offer was accepted by Brighton after a midnight deadline for bids for the midfielder was set on Thursday.

It is understood Chelsea were prepared to go to £100 million for the player.

However, although Caicedo was expected to travel to Liverpool for a medical on Friday, he remains in London and has made it clear he only wants to leave Brighton for Chelsea, who have been pursuing him all summer.

Chelsea are yet to offer a new improved bid.

Brighton manager, Roberto de Zerbi, said: “I have already forgotten about Moises. I’m really proud of the players we have in the squad. Bigger clubs can buy our players but they can’t buy our soul or spirit.”

Liverpool formally submitted their proposal late on Thursday night after Caicedo seemingly indicated his willingness to move to Anfield.

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, on Friday, said: “The fee with the club is agreed. We will see what that means. We aren’t a club with endless resources and we didn’t expect a couple of things to happen this summer. Then it happened.”

Liverpool were locked in discussions with Brighton to ascertain all the financial parameters of doing a deal in case Chelsea couldn’t or wouldn’t reach an agreement.

Liverpool were informed just after midnight that they were the highest bidders.

Brighton signed Caicedo for £4.5 million from Independiente del Valle in Ecuador in 2021.

The Star