Man United could have signed Moises Caicedo for just £4.5 million in 2020

Manchester United could have signed Moises Caicedo for a measly £4.5 million just three years ago, with the Brighton midfielder now set to move for a British-record fee.

Caicedo has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all keeping tabs on the Ecuadorian.

It appeared that Liverpool had won the race to sign the 21-year-old, having had a mammoth £110 million bid accepted by Brighton on Thursday.

However, the transfer saga took another unexpected twist on Friday with Caicedo reportedly rejecting Liverpool in favour of Chelsea, who are expected to succeed with an approved offer for the midfielder.

Caicedo enjoyed a stellar campaign last season as he made 37 appearances in the Premier League, enhancing his budding reputation.

Chelsea are now set acquire his services ahead of the new season, but he could easily have been a United player a few years ago.

The Athletic claim the Red Devils could have signed Caicedo for as little as £4.5 million when they initially had interest in him in 2020.

During that period, he was playing in Ecuador for Independiente del Valle, but Man United walk away from the deal, with Brighton moving in and snapping him up.

Moises Caicedo in action for Brighton. Image: Getty

United backed out of the deal due to concerns over the high agent fees that they would have to pay to land Caicedo.

Of course, the decision proved to be a disaster, with the player now commanding a fee north of £110 million in 2023.

United would go onto draft in the likes of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount, who joined this summer.

Caicedo won Brighton's Player of the Season and Player's Player of the Season awards following a brilliant campaign last season.

Chelsea are now strong favourites to sign him over Liverpool, with the two teams due to face each other in their opening game of the new Premier League season at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.