Man Utd could have signed £100m rated Moises Caicedo for just £4.5m

Manchester United could have signed Brighton’s Moises Caicedo for just £4.5million only a few years ago, it has been claimed.

On Thursday it emerged that United had agreed a deal to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea on a five-year contract for £55million, plus £5milllion in add-ons.

Mount, who joined Chelsea aged six, had a year left to run on his deal at Stamford Bridge but contract negotiations cooled late last year. Since Chelsea have been keen to comply with the player’s wishes over a potential exit.

The 24-year-old will be Erik ten Hag's first signing of the summer, with United looking to strengthen following their qualification for next term’s Champions League.

But Mount is not the only figure that has been linked to an Old Trafford switch.

According to the Athletic, United are also interested in Caicedo and are prepared to go higher than Mount on a fee because the Ecuadorian is three years younger.

Man Utd in for Caicedo

United would reportedly have to pay £100million to lure Caicedo away from Brighton, which has led connected individuals to doubt United’s chances of getting the midfielder.

As per the Athletic report, some sources claim that United may have only touched base on Caicedo to irritate Chelsea’s attempt to sign the same player.

If United do intend to sign Caicedo this summer, however, it will be for a price that far exceeds what they could have paid for the player two years ago.

Indeed, according to Express.co.uk, in January 2021 United had the chance to sign Caicedo for as little as £4.5million when he was plying his trade at his native Independiente.

At the time United were starting with a much-derided midfield trio of Scott McTominay, Fred and Bruno Fernandes.

For whatever reason, however, the club walked away from the deal. Caicedo then headed to Brighton for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £4.5million.