Why Caicedo is perfect for both Chelsea and Liverpool

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 12 Jan 2023 09:27 GMT
• 3 min read

Moises Caicedo has become one of the most sought-after young central midfielders in Europe.

The Brighton star is on the radar of Liverpool and Chelsea as both Premier League clubs look to bolster their options in that position with a brilliant talent who can develop.

Despite being just 21 years old, Caicedo is a player oozing with confidence. Similarly, his positional intelligence is quite something to behold given his inexperience.

Roberto De Zerbi has been playing him on the right of the holding position in a 4-2-3-1 but he also has delivered stellar performances playing in a 4-3-3 - the area he played in at Independiente del Valle under their former coach Miguel Angel Ramirez.

Caicedo is able to make decent passes from deep and break through the lines. And when putting himself further forward, he shows astute composure in progressing the ball and intelligence in making the right calls.

Defensively, Caicedo knows how to counter-press and when to drop between the centre-backs - while his versatile passing range makes gives a side the ability to make quick transitions right after a turnover.

He is nimble with the ball at his feet and is able to manoeuvre out of tight spaces, too.

Caicedo can operate as a box-to-box midfielder but his true speciality lies in dogged tackling and generally a high involvement in defensive actions.

Liverpool are desperate for a central midfielder to come in and offer respite as they gear up for their attempt at getting Jude Bellingham in the summer. Caicedo represents a sensible move right now given his experience in the Premier League already.

Chelsea need a revamp of their midfield and can build their backbone around the Ecuador international. Both know such a transfer would come at a hefty price, however.

Caicedo on the move?

As FootballTransfers has reported, Liverpool have an interest in Brighton youngster.

Meanwhile, we hear that the 21-year-old’s reps have been actively trying to get their client a move from Brighton - which is why the player has been linked with so many clubs.

The player starts with his new agency group s on January 18, as revealed by Ben Jacobs, and so a deal, if any, isn’t something that will happen in the next week or so, the journalist says.

Chelsea’s move for Benifca’s Enzo Fernandez looks to have come to a grinding halt but there have been other links generated by intermediaries, we are told.

Brighton will no doubt demand a high price for one of their biggest assets but it could well be worth it in the long run given Caicedo's high ceiling.