Shockwaves reverberate at Liverpool as Moises Caicedo deal falls through – Is the club's structure the root cause? Jamie Carragher weighs in

Jamie Carragher feels that Liverpool should have prioritized signing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo as their defensive midfield reinforcement for the summer. He also detects an issue within the club's current structure. Despite agreeing to a record-breaking transfer fee of £111m with Brighton for Caicedo on Friday, Liverpool now face stiff competition from Chelsea as the player expresses his desire to join them.

Liverpool has been unsuccessful in their attempts to find a defensive midfielder to fill the void left by Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. Over the past two weeks, the club's pursuit of Romeo Lavia has been met with frustration, and Jamie Carragher has criticized their approach, deeming it "embarrassing" due to their refusal to meet Southampton's £50m asking price. This criticism was expressed on Twitter.

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Jurgen Klopp looks likely to miss out on Caicedo as he rushed late to join the competition, according to reports. Carragher stated, "When considering Liverpool's need for a midfielder - or anyone in the Premier League, for that matter - Moises Caicedo is one of the standout options."

Chelsea has been in contention for a considerable period, and in all fairness, their involvement spans two to three months. If he genuinely desires to join Chelsea, and has given them his assurance by already engaging with the manager, it is understandable that he does not wish to renege on that commitment. Therefore, one could acknowledge the validity of this standpoint as being reasonable.

On the other hand, Liverpool's entry into the scene has occurred at a relatively advanced stage due to their reluctance in meeting a specific price for Romeo Lavia. The aforementioned price for Caicedo is substantial, but it seems that Liverpool is perhaps more desperate than Chelsea.

We questioned the price of Enzo Fernandez in the January transfer window when considering the figures for a holding midfield player. He was acquired for £100m, whereas Declan Rice was signed by Arsenal for £105m, and Caicedo has been valued at £111m.

I am eagerly hoping for his arrival at Liverpool, as the requirement for him there is likely more crucial. His absence will surely be a significant setback.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is prepared for the departure of Caicedo. Although Chelsea is still considering making a new offer, it is believed that the 21-year-old Ecuadorian player would prefer a move to Stamford Bridge.

Klopp is looking to strengthen his midfield options following the departures of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Milner.

Caicedo's former teammate at Brighton, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig were successfully signed by the team. However, Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in June, was not secured by Liverpool, despite a potential deal worth £115m.

Regarding Liverpool's plans for further reinforcement, Klopp remained elusive during his press conference on Friday. Nevertheless, Carragher believes that the absence of a permanent director of football has hindered Liverpool's efforts in successfully completing all their transfer activities this summer.

Liverpool's ownership were prepared to break the British transfer record in their pursuit of Caicedo. However, it would be unwise to make such a bid without confirmation of the player's interest," Carragher explained. "Liverpool should have prioritized Caicedo as their top choice, and if unable to secure him, turn to Lavia as the second option."

"It feels like it's almost the wrong way around and they may have to now go back to Southampton and pay the £50m they want for the player.

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Liverpool are yet to meet Romeo Lavia's valuation

It is important to remember that Caicedo is a young individual who is being pulled in different directions. He is receiving advice from various sources, so whatever decision he makes should be respected.

With regards to Lavia, Liverpool undoubtedly have the financial resources to acquire him, but it ultimately depends on whether they believe he is worth £50m. The owners of Liverpool have consistently prioritized obtaining value for their money.

Liverpool has never had a problem with finances; their priority is finding the perfect player at the perfect moment. Currently, the main obstacle for Liverpool in conducting transfers lies in the club's structure, not the ownership.

Redknapp: I'm shocked Caicedo has turned Liverpool down, he would have been perfect

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Former Liverpool captain and We pundit Jamie Redknapp on the Essential Football Podcast:

As a Liverpool fan, I must admit my immense bias, but I find this situation truly astounding!

Traditionally, Liverpool would easily come out on top in this scenario without question. I was completely convinced of their inevitable victory. I started my day as a Liverpool supporter, filled with joy at the thought. However, upon hearing the news that he has rejected Liverpool, I can only believe it once I witness him wearing a Chelsea jersey.

I believed that he would appear exceptional in the red kit and that he would be the ideal addition to Liverpool. While I understand the allure of Chelsea as it is a renowned and immensely successful club, considering the historical significance of the two clubs, I was particularly astonished by the prospect of Caicedo uniting with Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool, as I thought it would be a flawless transfer.

"It surely adds an intriguing twist for Southampton as they would now demand a hefty price for Romeo Lavia. They will approach the other club acknowledging their strong interest while simultaneously emphasizing that their initial claim of being the preferred option has now been contradicted. However, such situations are commonplace in football, and I believe Southampton will ultimately have to re-engage in negotiations."