Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is ‘not a serious option’ for Liverpool this summer despite Fabinho’s impending departure, it has been reported, as Chelsea remain in the driving seat for any deal for the Ecuadorian star.
The Brazilian has been left out of Liverpool’s pre-season squad heading to Germany, with personal terms having already been agreed for him to head to Saudi Arabia and join Al-Ittihad for a fee of £40m, where he will join the likes of N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Jota.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Roberto Firmino, Harvey Elliott, Jordan Henderson, Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah ahead of the UEFA Champions League group A match at the J 2K9DC16 Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Roberto Firmino, Harvey Elliott, Jordan Henderson, Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah ahead of the UEFA Champions League group A match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2022. (Alamy Stock Photo)
The Reds have already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in recent weeks for a combined fee of over £100m, but will certainly dip back into the market for additions should Fabinho ultimately depart, a move which seems increasingly likely.
According to the Athletic, four players have been earmarked as potential successors to the Brazilian, though an £80m move for Caicedo seems unlikely, with the same report claiming that ‘Moises Caicedo is not viewed as a serious option with the Brighton midfielder expected to join Chelsea’.
The four options?
One of those linked with a move to Anfield this summer is Romeo Lavia, who has been considered among Jurgen Klopp’s top targets and with a £40m price tag on his head, the teenager is also admired by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Another that has been long linked with a move to Liverpool is Ryan Gravenberch, who is keen on first team football after a disappointing season with German champions Bayern Munich.
DFB Cup, 1st Round, Rhein Energie Stadium Cologne; Viktoria Cologne – FC Bayern Munich; Ryan Gravenberch 2JTXDT8 DFB Cup, 1st Round, Rhein Energie Stadium Cologne; Viktoria Cologne – FC Bayern Munich; Ryan Gravenberch (Alamy Stock Photo)
In a perhaps shock twist, and probably the least likely to make a move, Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is also thought to be under consideration, despite the Englishman having already expressed his desire to stay with the Etihad side this summer after a tricky first season.