Jamie Carragher admits Liverpool had to pay a lot for Moises Caicedo because buyers knew they were “desperate” but welcomed his former club’s summer business.
The Red Devils are set to pay a record British transfer fee of £110m for the Brighton star, who has been closely linked with Chelsea for weeks. However, the Merseyside team has risen to the top of the queue and is about to sign the Ecuadorian subject for a medical examination.
Since several weeks ago, Liverpool has been searching for a defensive midfielder after having multiple bids for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia rejected. They have since turned their focus elsewhere as they look for a successor to fill the vacuum left by Jordan Henderson and Fabinho’s exits.
The unexpected windfall from the pair, who both headed to Saudi Arabia, meant they had more cash and Carragher has praised those at Anfield for going after the Brighton man, who at 21, will be a mainstay for years to come.
He tweeted: “110M is a big price for Caicedo but Liverpool had to pay big as clubs knew they were desperate. But signing two top young players for 145M & selling two of your older players for 52M is great business!”
Liverpool have already spent close to £100m to add Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, whom they needed following the exits of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who were all allowed to run down their contacts. Only days ago Carragher had taken aim at Liverpool for not acting with conviction in the market.
He said: “This is embarrassing. Liverpool for years now have got deals done quickly with no fuss. If you don’t think he’s worth 50M move on, if you really want him pay it. Also not sure why LFC aren’t in for Caicedo, yes it’s a lot of money but Liverpool got big money for JH/FAB”.
