As Liverpool ramp up their recruitment efforts, recent developments in London point to some of Chelsea’s best players being ripe for the plucking.
Chelsea and Liverpool aren’t just rivals on the football pitch. They have been at odds in the transfer market for years.
Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia are prime examples of when the Blues got the better of the Reds in a transfer window, while Liverpool’s acquisition of Rio Ngumoha is a recent example of the opposite.
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Do you think it’s time for Arne Slot to start trusting Rio Ngumoha more?
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John Aldridge on Rio Ngumoha
John Aldridge on Rio Ngumoha
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Reports from L’Equipe in France claim Enzo Fernandez has become unsettled at Stamford Bridge after the departure of Enzo Maresca.
While he doesn’t really address Liverpool’s needs, there is a Chelsea star who would make brilliant additions to Arne Slot side, and it might sound crazy at first.
Liverpool could tempt Moises Caicedo as unrest grows with Chelsea ownership
Caicedo chose Chelsea over Liverpool back in 2023 after a long saga that left the Reds red in the face.
He has since become one of the best midfielders in world football, and arguably Chelsea’s most important player.
Moises Caicedo playing for Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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But fans in West London have been concerned with how BlueCo are running the club, treating recruitment as a business activity rather than a means to win trophies — A.K.A. Chelsea’s whole identity.
Fernandez is the first concrete case of a more experienced player losing patience with the project, but the notion is nothing new. Focusing solely on youth and treating players as assets makes it feel unlikely that Chelsea will challenge for a title in the near future.
Liverpool need to sign a midfielder and quite frankly, Caicedo is the number one prospect in Europe for what Slot really needs.
Ryan Gravenberch was being mentioned in the same conversations as Caicedo after breaking out last season, but it’s impossible to shake the feeling that the Dutchman’s future lies further forward in the midfield unit.
You’ve got £80m to fix Liverpool’s midfield this summer, who are you buying?
Elliot Anderson applauds after Nottingham Forest's Premier League match against Manchester United at the City Ground (Credit: Getty Images/Molly Darlington).
Adam Wharton pictured playing for Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League match against Fredrikstad at Selhurst Park (Credit: Getty Images/Jacques Feeney/Offside).
Warren Zaire-Emery looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between PSG and VfB Stuttgart at Stuttgart Arena (Credit: Getty Images/Aurelien Meunier/PSG).
Sandro Tonali pictured in action during Newcastle United's Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg against Manchester City at St James' Park (Credit: Getty Images/Scott Llewellyn/MI News/NurPhoto).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Molly Darlington/Jacques Feeney/Offside/Aurelien Meunier/PSG/Scott Llewellyn/MI News/NurPhoto
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
The Ecuadorian is the perfect number six. He applies Kante-esque pressure on opponents and provides unmatched protection to an inconsistent back line. Not to mention, he is technically astute and adept at making line-breaking passes. And we all know too well how he can strike a ball.
The idea sounds mad, but there are enough cracks at Chelsea to suggest it’s not out of the question. If Fernandez does go to PSG as is being predicted, Caicedo might look at the loss of his midfield partner and the financially motivated recruitment approach and consider going back on his decision.
Chelsea are a solid side and an impressive club. They only just won the Club World Cup. It’s simply the concerns with the ownership that would make a move like this possible. Parting ways with Maresca is a red flag considering how much he won there in just 18 months there.
If the appointment of Liam Rosenior doesn’t work out and Chelsea miss out on Champions League football, there will be stars in the side who agitate for an exit. Caicedo could be one. Imagine…
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