Chelsea have been the main bidders for Caicedo all summer, but didn’t meet Brighton’s nine-figure asking price until Liverpool did with a higher offer.

But after receiving encouragement from Caicedo’s stance, Chelsea are now preparing a new bid. According to 90min, they will match Liverpool’s £111m offer within the next 24 hours.

That said, Brighton had imposed a deadline of midnight on Thursday for Caicedo to be auctioned off. Nevertheless, the Ecuador international has told his current employers where he wants to go next – and it isn’t Liverpool.

Liverpool are said to be ‘furious’ with Caicedo’s camp because of their stance. Their efforts to sign him appear to have been in vain after all.

Should Caicedo complete his Chelsea move, the Blues would be breaking the British transfer record for the second time in 2023 after the January capture of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.

Together, Caicedo and Fernandez should be the cornerstones of the Chelsea midfield for many years to come.

Instead, Caicedo could have rekindled his connection with former Brighton colleague Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool, who have also been evolving their midfield this year.

‘Astonishing’ for Caicedo to choose Chelsea over Liverpool

And according to former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp, it is ‘astonishing’ that Caicedo has chosen Chelsea instead.

“It’s been astonishing what has happened these past few days,” Redknapp told the Sky Sports Football podcast. “I thought I’d seen it all with football transfers.

“There was that Peter Odemwingie one a few years ago, my dad [Harry Redknapp] was involved with that one, but this will make for an incredible couple of days.

“What is most unbelievable about it is that we’re just a few hours away from the Premier League starting and players don’t know if they’ll be going or staying. I think it’s unbelievable.

“I’m obviously hugely biased on this one but this is astonishing for me. I didn’t think I’d see a situation like this.

“Normally Liverpool would always win this one, they turned their attention from [Romeo] Lavia a couple of days ago, and now they’ve turned their attentions to Caicedo.

“I woke up and I thought it was inevitable. I was very happy with that one, but to hear the news he’s turned Liverpool down, I’ll believe it when I see it and when I see him in a Chelsea shirt. I find it quite astonishing.

“I get the attraction of Chelsea, I really do, but in terms of the history of the club, I’m amazed.

“Especially when you’re turning down Jurgen Klopp who has been there for so long and could have joined Alexis Mac Allister. I thought it would be a perfect move.”