Steve McManaman claims Liverpool will not go the distance for Moises Caicedo
Liverpool legend Steve McManaman has weighed in on the Reds’ potential pursuit of Moises Caicedo, and it seems he is sceptical about the club’s willingness to meet Brighton’s hefty asking price.
Speaking in an interview with Betfred via football.london, McManaman expressed doubts about Liverpool going head-to-head with Chelsea in the race for the Ecuadorian midfielder.
“No, they [Liverpool] won’t pay that money. I understand what Brighton are doing and if it’s true that Arsenal offered them a lot of money in the January window and they said no, then now his price tag would have gone up even more, so I don’t believe that any team would pay £100million for him.”
“He’s a good defensive midfielder, but the prices we’re talking about are ridiculous aren’t they? I presume that Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal has set the benchmark now.”
“Clubs can play the game now and claim if one defensive midfielder is worth £100million then their player is also worth that too. I very much doubt that Liverpool would pay £100million for Caicedo.”
According to McManaman, the reported £100m price tag for Caicedo is too steep for Liverpool to consider. He understands Brighton’s stance in holding onto their prized asset, especially after rejecting Arsenal’s sizable offer during the January transfer window. McManaman believes that such rejection has likely driven up Caicedo’s valuation, making it even less likely for any club to meet the inflated price.
While McManaman acknowledges Caicedo’s talents as a defensive midfielder, he is rightly critical of the current transfer market and the exorbitant fees for players in that position.
Caicedo too expensive?
He cites Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal as having set a new benchmark for defensive midfielders’ valuations. With the market inflated, clubs may feel pressured to demand similar astronomical sums for their players, a practice McManaman rightly finds questionable.
Liverpool’s prudent approach to transfers is certainly well-known, and McManaman doubts that they would be willing to spend such a substantial amount on Caicedo. The Reds have historically made smart investments and focused on building a cohesive team rather than splurging on individual players.
Ultimately, McManaman’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among football fans regarding the current state of the transfer market.
The prices being quoted for players, especially in midfield positions, have reached unprecedented levels, surely making it challenging for clubs to make rational decisions.
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Liverpool’s priority in the coming weeks would certainly be finding replacements for Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, who have been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia. While Caicedo could surely be an attractive option, the club’s budget and financial prudence may come into play when considering such a high-priced transfer.
