Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp reached out to Moises Caicedo to launch a ‘charm offensive’ when it emerged that a deal had been agreed with Brighton to sign the midfielder, but was swiftly knocked back in concrete fashion, it has emerged.
The Reds and Chelsea went head to head for several targets this summer, of which Caicedo was one. Long expected to join Chelsea, a deal stalling left Liverpool sensing an opportunity and they made a £110m offer for the 21-year-old, which was accepted by Brighton.
Just 24 hours later though, they had seemingly lost the player to Chelsea, with Caicedo refusing to head north to undergo medical tests and instead waiting for Chelsea to raise their offer, which they did.
£115m and a week later, he was unveiled as Mauricio Pochettino’s latest signing at Stamford Bridge, and leaving Klopp ruing a potential missed opportunity.
As per the Athletic, when a deal had been agreed with Brighton ‘Klopp entered the fray by launching a charm offensive with a series of messages making it clear how just much he admired Caicedo as a player and how much he wanted the 21-year-old to play for him’, and likely expected a similar tone of response from the Ecuadorian.
However, Caicedo had already made up his mind and ‘just sent a text message explaining that, though he appreciated Liverpool’s desire to buy him, he did not want to move to Anfield and was only looking to join Chelsea’.
