Why Klopp wanted him
The 127 million misunderstanding Moises Caicedo
By Florian Papenfuhs
08/12/2023, 7:00 p.m
On the edge of Harry Kane’s completely chaotic change, another transfer theater is taking place in the Premier League, which in the end only knows losers. In the leading roles: A sinfully expensive no-name, Jürgen Klopp and an old acquaintance from the Bundesliga.
Chelsea FC decides to buy a six. Not now, but in the spring. The Londoners, who have been incredibly generous since the takeover of US investor Todd Boehly, have found what they are looking for in Brighton. Brighton may not be familiar to many outside the island. But as a kind of SC Freiburg of the Premier League, the club has done an excellent job in recent years.
Last year the club finished sixth. Chelsea finished in 12th place. The curse of the good deed is not long in coming. World champion Alexis MacAllister is moving to Liverpool for 42 million euros, while goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is joining Chelsea.
The complete package
And he shouldn’t be the only one. The blues find their six in Moises Caicedo. Not now, but in the spring. While the players and the club quickly agree, Brighton opposes it. The transfer fee is too low. It should be said that Moises Caicedo is a type of player that almost all top clubs in the world are currently looking for.
The NBA has a nickname for players who are so versatile they shouldn’t really exist. They are called “Unicorns” – unicorns. The job description of top teams for the six, i.e. the control center in front of the defense, reads a bit unbelievable at the moment.
You can intercept a large part of passes through intelligent positional play, are you athletic enough to get into many duels and almost always win them? In addition, do you have good ball handling and a good feeling for whether you have to play a short pass to the next man or a 60-yard ball behind the chain? If you don’t get nervous in pressing situations on the ball and can pull off tactically clever fouls without risking a yellow card, you’re welcome to apply.
An expensive Premier League hype
There are only a handful of players who share all of these traits. That makes them all the more popular – and more expensive. Enzo Fernandez is one of them. He will move to Chelsea at the beginning of 2023 for 121 million euros. Thomas Tuchel’s dream player Declan Rice is one of them. Arsenal are paying West Ham €116m to secure their services. Both clubs have never spent more money on a new player.
And Moises Caicedo is one of those – a vacuum cleaner on the six like N’Golo Kanté a few years ago. With grotesquely precise tackles and remarkable athleticism, Caicedo ensures order where there is none. He is by no means a pure destroyer. 88 percent of his passes arrive per game, the Ecuadorian has a good eye for his teammates. In his best moments he looks as elegant on the ball as the young Paul Pogba. Caicedo mercilessly chases opponents and passes in front of his penalty area. He rarely needs the machete in the jungle of player legs. Caicedo never goes further than a yellow card.
After the statement transfers from Arsenal and Chelsea, Liverpool FC is also ready to dig deep into its pockets historically. Chelsea FC, deterred by the transfer fee, on the other hand, is focusing on Tyler Adams instead. The American once played for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga before moving to Leeds United last summer. Now the jackpot awaits the midfielder. Leeds, who have been relegated to the second division, are to go to Chelsea in the capital. Chelsea draw their exit clause for 23 million euros, everything seems clear. Until Friday morning.
“Will see what that means”
First, several media outlets spread the news that Moises Caicedo is changing clubs. Liverpool FC paid an incredible 127 million euros for the only 21-year-old miracle six. It would be the most expensive transfer ever made in the Premier League. At a press conference, coach Jürgen Klopp said: “The transfer fee has been agreed with the club. We’ll see what that means. We’re not a club with infinite resources and we didn’t expect some things to happen this summer. Then it happened.”
Chelsea FC also hears that “it’s happening”. At this point, Tyler Adams is already halfway through his medical. As the Blues reconcile their defeat, Caicedo speaks up for himself. He doesn’t want to go to Liverpool, if he moves it’s only to Chelsea. And suddenly everyone else lost. Brighton who are now in a significantly worse negotiating position. Liverpool FC, who have not yet completed their new midfield. And Tyler Adams. After all the back and forth, Chelsea promptly slams the door in his face. Instead of an excited press conference and euphoric blues fans, the start of the second division awaits Adams today. Leeds United play in Birmingham at 4 p.m.