It is no secret that Liverpool were interested in Moises Caicedo this summer. The Reds offered an eye-watering £111 million themselves before they were pipped to the post by Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp even went public and rowed back on some rather ironic comments he made about spendind big on one player when Paul Pogba joined Manchester United seven years ago. Liverpool even tried to hijack his transfer to the Stamford Bridge after the Blues hijacked their deal for Romeo Lavia.
However, Caicedo’s agent, Ali Barat, revealed that Liverpool weren’t the only club who tried to hijack the £115 million deal at the last minute. Ali mentioned that Arsenal also tried to sign Caicedo at the last minute.
Arsenal wanted Moises Caicedo
It came as no surprise when Barat claimed that Arsenal had tried to hijack Caicedo’s move to Chelsea this summer. The Gunners were interested in signing the Ecuador international in last January. They had submitted many bids for the midfielder during the last winter transfer window but Brighton didn’t accept any.
Barat tells Tuttosport: “It was a fantastic moment (Caicedo’s transfer). The culmination of three and a half years of work. It was an exciting and also very tense moment. At the last minute, as you know, Arsenal and Liverpool also came into play. It was definitely a great experience.”
Arsenal may now feel lucky that they didn’t sign Moises Caicedo. The 22-year-old has been a hit-and-miss for Chelsea so far. On the other hand, Arsenal’s very own big-money signing, Declan Rice, has been very impressive so far.
Caicedo chose Chelsea over Liverpool
Talking to talkSPORT, Brighton CEO Paul Barber said: “Liverpool is a fantastic football club. For any footballer to have a chance to play at Anfield, you would imagine that they would be running up the M6. But it was not to be.
“Moises and his advisors decided that London was their preferred destination. Liverpool could not have done any more. They were superb and professional throughout.
“But, then, it comes down to the player.”
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