Liverpool may have Caicedo and Colwill transfer hope as Chelsea issues emerge

Liverpool will be monitoring Chelsea and Brighton’s negotiations with a watchful eye

Liverpool may have a glimmer of hope as they keep tabs on the situations of Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill – as Chelsea and Brighton struggle to tie up any agreement over potential transfers.

Chelsea and Brighton have worked together amicably in recent years. For example, Marc Cucurella, plus Graham Potter and his coaching staff all moved to the capital from the South Coast in 2022, while Tariq Lamptey, Billy Gilmour and Colwill – albeit on loan – have moved in the opposite direction since the Seagulls’ return to the big time.

But there has been a major shift in dynamics this summer, as Brighton finished above Chelsea in the Premier League and are refusing to roll over for them in the transfer market with regards to two Liverpool-linked players – Caicedo and Colwill.

As per the Guardian, Brighton will not back down from their £100 million asking price for Caicedo. Chelsea saw a £70m bid swatted away last week with negotiations now said to have stalled.

Liverpool’s perfect Fabinho replacement sees the game ‘two seconds before everyone else’

To make matters even more interesting, the two clubs came face to face with one another on the pitch over the weekend in Philadelphia as part of the Premier League Summer Series’ tour of the United States. Speaking to press beforehand, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi was crystal clear on his club’s stance on the Ecuadorian.

He said: “Caicedo stays with us until my owner changes his mind. No idea of what can happen in the future – but if Moises leaves we have to find the right player.”

The Italian also couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at their rivals as he continued. “We have to substitute him with a great player because this year we play in the Europa League unlike Chelsea.”

Could the London club’s failure to tie down the player leave the door open for a late challenge from the likes of Liverpool?

The Reds will be firmly in the market for a tough-tackling, possession-hungry midfielder of Caicedo’s ilk once the sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are announced. The only stumbling block in any potential deal, like Chelsea know all too well, would be the fee involved.

Colwill then comes into play as De Zerbi was also asked about the Under-21 European Champion, specifically if his expired loan could become a permanent transfer in a player-plus-cash swap for Caicedo. The Seagulls saw a £30m offer rebuffed in June as Mauricio Pochettino has the defender in his own long-term plans, whie Liverpool have been admirers this summer.

“Colwill included in the deal? I would like to play with Colwill and Caicedo together,” was his response.

In years gone by a club such as Brighton taking a hardline stance with Chelsea would have perhaps been tricky to maintain, though it appears they are in fact not bluffing, as Colwill being included in the deal appears the only solution of a compromise in the ongoing saga.

As for Liverpool? Perhaps the longer Colwill stays at Chelsea the better as the clock ticks down on his current deal, which runs to 2025. Watch this space.