Liverpool ‘ready to walk away’ from transfer race as £110m star ‘expects Chelsea to pay British record’

According to reports, Chelsea are preparing to gazump Liverpool’s £110million bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.

Friday has been a very dramatic day in the transfer window after Brighton told interested clubs bidding for the Ecuadorian midfielder would close on Thursday evening.

That has not exactly gone to plan, however, with the saga far from over despite Liverpool having a £110m bid accepted by the Seagulls.

Caicedo’s priority has always been Chelsea and he is yet to agree personal terms with Jurgen Klopp’s side, which hints a move to Stamford Bridge is going to happen.

Brighton have been asking for £100m all summer and the Blues have refused to meet their demands, but Liverpool’s bid – which would be a British transfer record – has changed their tune. In most other cases, it would be a case of too little, too late…but not here.

On Friday evening, transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano said Liverpool are “prepared to walk away from the deal” with Caicedo reluctant to make the move to Anfield after flirting with Chelsea all summer.

OPINION: Even if they ‘hijack’ Liverpool’s ‘hijack’, Chelsea have embarrassed themselves with Caicedo chase

Chelsea are “now in contact with Brighton” as they prepare a new bid, Romano adds.

There are multiple reports which state the Blues are expected to make a fresh offer in the coming hours.

Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth had this to say on Twitter: “Chelsea actively working on a deal to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo. Fee could be worth a British record £115m. Chelsea looking to get deal done in the coming hours.”

And a report from The Guardian says Mauricio Pochettino’s side are ‘refusing to give up’ on ‘their top summer target’ and will match Liverpool’s £110m bid in order to win the race.

Over at The Telegraph, it is said that Caicedo ‘expects Chelsea to agree a British record fee with Brighton after making it clear that he would rather move to Stamford Bridge than Liverpool’.

Both reports, as well as one by The Sun, says the Blues are looking to sign Caicedo and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia having made a £55m bid for the Belgian midfielder.

As touched on already, it has been a dramatic day and one in which Chelsea also pulled out of their agreement to sign Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams.

Chelsea decided to save the £20m for their pursuits of Lavia and Caicedo, with Liverpool set to miss out on both players.

READ MORE: Liverpool make £60m offer for Caicedo alternative as ‘great victim of Mbappe’ emerges as target