Liverpool outbid Chelsea and reach £110m agreement to sign Moises Caicedo

Liverpool have broken the bank to get their man.

The Reds have reached an agreement to sign talented midfielder Moises from Brighton, outbidding Premier League rivals Chelsea in the process.

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, a fee of £110m has been agreed – shattering the British transfer record.

It's understood Chelsea tabled a £100m bid.

🚨 Liverpool reach agreement with Brighton to sign Moises Caicedo for British record £110m. #BHAFC held auction using midnight deadline. #LFC highest bidder, #CFC at £100m. Personal terms a formality + medical planned for Friday in Liverpool @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/cUS7TdNWyL

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 11, 2023

"Brighton held an auction with a midnight cut-off on Thursday, with Liverpool the highest bidders. Chelsea’s bid for the 21-year-old was up to £100m," Ornstein wrote in The Athletic.

"Personal terms are yet to be agreed between Caicedo and Liverpool, but are expected to be a formality, with a medical planned for Friday."

Back during last season's January transfer window, Arsenal registered their interest in acquiring the Ecuadorian's signature.

But Brighton's owner Tony Bloom, a notoriously-tough yet good negotiator, held firm and batted off any advances – even turning down a £70 bid from the Gunners.

So when Arsenal signed fellow defensive midfielder Declan Rice less than six months later, Chelsea emerged as the favourites to snap up Caicedo.

With Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all departing West London, Chelsea have been left with a gaping void in midfield.

However, Liverpool entered the picture at the final minute and seemingly hijacked Chelsea's pursuit, outbidding them by £10.

This deal breaks the Merseyside club's transfer record of £75m for Virgil van Dijk back in 2018.

It also shatters the British record fee, an accolade previously held by Chelsea when they splashed £107m on Enzo Fernandez.

For Reds fans, it immediately alleviates their growing concerns with replacing the mass exodus of outgoing midfielders.

Not only did they lose skipper Jordan Henderson, but they also saw defensive midfielder Fabinho leave Anfield for Saudi Arabia too.

As far as a Liverpool's starting midfield looks on paper, Caicedo sitting alongside both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai gives Jurgen Klopp's side a major boost in their quest for more silverware.