Liverpool’s hopes of signing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo have been dashed, leaving them to shift their focus to another long-standing target, Romeo Lavia.

In a surprising turn of events, Liverpool managed to secure an agreement for Caicedo with a £110 million offer, which was accepted by Brighton. This move caught the attention of Chelsea, who had been pursuing Caicedo for the entire summer, and they promptly countered with a £100 million offer.

Despite the impressive bid from Liverpool, Caicedo and his representatives expressed a preference for a move to London, leading Chelsea to re-enter the picture and make a renewed offer.

After nearly three days of negotiations, Chelsea has successfully sealed a deal with Brighton for Moises Caicedo, setting a new British record at £115 million. The agreement also encompasses a substantial sell-on clause, aiming to avoid any potential Financial Fair Play penalties for the club.

Caicedo is expected to undergo a medical evaluation on Monday, and if all goes well, his confirmation as a Chelsea player could follow shortly thereafter. The decision to move to London played a pivotal role in Caicedo’s choice.

This marks the conclusion of a relatively brief but drawn-out transfer saga, with Chelsea needing to pay almost double the initial £60 million they initially offered for Caicedo earlier in the summer due to Liverpool’s competing interest.

Liverpool will now shift their focus towards securing a proven defensive midfielder, a position acknowledged by manager Jurgen Klopp as a need for the squad. Alexis Mac Allister, a summer signing, filled this role with limited success in their Premier League opener against Chelsea.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Southampton’s 19-year-old midfielder Romeo Lavia has been complicated by Chelsea’s entry into the race. Despite three rejected bids, Liverpool may have to reconsider their valuation and offer a higher sum to secure the deal.

If Lavia indeed joins Chelsea, Liverpool would need to explore alternative options. Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure and Fulham’s Joao Palhinha are potential choices, but their price tags of £70 million and £60 million respectively could be significant obstacles.

Liverpool’s previous interests in players like Aurelien Tchouameni, Khephren Thuram, Ryan Gravenberch, and Manu Kone demonstrate their ongoing search for the right defensive midfielder solution.