Jamie Carragher feels that Liverpool should have prioritized Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo as their main reinforcement for the defensive midfield position during the recent summer transfer window. He highlighted concerns about the club’s current setup, expressing his thoughts on the difficulties Liverpool has faced in securing midfield replacements like Romeo Lavia.
Though the Reds agreed on a significant transfer fee of £111m with Brighton for Caicedo, the Ecuadorian player’s preference is to join Chelsea, creating a potential obstacle for Liverpool’s pursuit. Carragher criticized Liverpool’s last-minute entry into the race after being unwilling to meet Southampton’s £50m valuation for Lavia.
The ex-Liverpool player emphasized Caicedo’s substantial value in the market for a holding midfield role, comparing his potential move to the inflated prices seen in previous transfers like Enzo Fernandez and Declan Rice. He expressed his strong desire for Caicedo to join Liverpool, highlighting the club’s pressing need for such a player and foreseeing a potential setback if he doesn’t sign for them.
Brighton’s manager expects to lose Caicedo, while Chelsea remains in contention, given the player’s preference for a move to Stamford Bridge. Jurgen Klopp aims to bolster his midfield following recent departures, but Liverpool missed out on other potential signings and must strengthen their options in the middle.
Carragher believes that Liverpool’s transfer strategy appears muddled, suggesting that the club should have pursued Caicedo as their primary target and shifted to Lavia as the secondary option. He also attributed the club’s struggle in completing transfers to the absence of a permanent director of football, highlighting a structural issue within the club. This uncertainty in leadership could hinder Liverpool’s ability to secure the right signings, despite the owners’ willingness to invest in the right players.
