Is Man Utd and Liverpool-target Caicedo available for transfer in January?

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is unlikely to be available for transfer in January, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Both Manchester United and Liverpool have made the Ecuador star one of their key targets for 2023.

There have been numerous reports that both clubs could even make bids as early as the January transfer window.

READ MORE: Man Utd rival Liverpool for Caicedo

But is Caicedo available in January? According to Romano, he is not.

What did Romano say?

“Caicedo is not expected to leave in January, the situation is still the same,” Romano wrote in his CaughtOffside column.

“Liverpool, Man United but also other clubs are monitoring him.

“He’s been on Manchester United’s list for years but then nothing happened. I’m sure Brighton will try to keep him at least until June.”

Caicedo has emerged as one of the most exciting young central midfielders not only in the Premier League but in all of Europe over the past year or so.

He joined Brighton from Independiente del Valle in 2020 before spending half a year on loan at Beerschot in 2021-22.

He returned to Brighton in January of this year before really exploding onto the scene.

Caicedo has also developed into Ecuador’s most admired player and he was outstanding during the group stages of the 2022 World Cup.

Ecuador impressed massively in their first two games, a 2-0 win over Qatar and 1-1 draw with Netherlands.

But they disappointed and exited the tournament after losing 2-1 to Senegal in their final group game. Caicedo had equalised to make it 1-1 but Kalidou Koulibaly’s winner proved decisive for the Senegalese.

Caicedo is still only 21, and both Man Utd and Liverpool see him as the future of their midfields.

Liverpool are looking to renew a midfield that is ageing, while United are still looking to sign one more top-class player in that area after missing out on first target Frenkie de Jong in the summer.