Major blow for Liverpool as club slap huge £100m price tag on January target

Brighton have reportedly placed a £100m price tag on Moises Caicedo in a major blow to Liverpool's hopes of signing of the midfielder.

The Ecuador international has been a hot topic this January with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle all thought to be interested in signing the midfielder.

The Times reported that Chelsea made a formal offer of £55million for Caicedo, which was promptly rejected by Brighton, insisting that they would need almost double to see him leave the Amex.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi is understandably keen to hold on to the midfielder, having already lost Leandro Trossard to Arsenal this January.

The Italian stated at the end of last month: "I would like to keep all our players here, and I would like to add some too. My hope is that Caicedo and [Alexis] Mac Allister will stay with us."

However, the triple figure price tag may come as a surprise to clubs who were previously told he would cost just £65million, according to multiple reports.

Should Brighton choose to sell Caicedo, they are set to make a hefty profit - having signed the midfielder for just £5million two years ago from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle.

Caicedo 'focused on Brighton'

Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Caicedo told Brighton's website that he was happy “playing for the club that opened doors for me”.

He stated: “I am focused on Brighton. I am here. I’m playing every day. Things from outside don’t trouble me nor does it take that focus away because I’m focused only on here.

“I handle (the speculation) well. You hear rumours here and there but I only try to be focused on the club where I am now, the club which opened the doors for me to be playing every week.”

Caicedo has continued his impressive form since returning from the World Cup in Qatar, but said that he has struggled to re-adjust to the temperature in England.

He said: “The most difficult part for me was getting used to the cold again – nothing else! For the rest, I have been focused on doing things very well and to be up there fighting for a good position with Brighton.

“We are getting better all the time. There’s an evolution with every match – we all understand each other better. The coach is giving us that confidence to always do things well on the pitch.

“Roberto (De Zerbi) has really helped me in bringing the ball out from the back and I think I have learned it well.

“I enjoy playing the ball out from the back. We do it well, coming out from deep positions. It is his preferred system and I’m enjoying it.”