Liverpool don’t often spend big but when they do, they usually have a strong reason for doing so.
Reds fans have not been used to their club spending big in transfer windows as of late, but they are showing real signs of intent this summer.
Liverpool are set to demolish the British transfer record as they are reported to be paying around £126m to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, although this isn’t the first time they’ve tried to break this record.
Back in 2023, owners FSG approved a £111m move for Moises Caicedo, who was at Brighton at the time, although this came right at the end of the window.
However, the Ecuadorian chose Chelsea instead in a deal that was somewhat embarrassing for the Reds due to it being so highly publicised, but the real reason behind his decision has finally been revealed.
READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister explains why he’s now ‘infuriated’ amid Florian Wirtz shirt number drama
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Liverpool failed to maintain contact with Moises Caicedo’s agent
Liverpool are usually shrewd operators in the transfer market and chase deals over a long period of time to ensure it is the right move to make.
The Caicedo case was exactly the same, although journalist David Lynch revealed on The Kopite Podcast that Liverpool failed to get the midfielder as they cut contact with his agent.
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“Liverpool had been in contact with his agent years prior when he came through at Independiente del Valle and he went to Brighton and did well, but it never really felt like they were going to have a shot,” Lynch explained.
“What happened between January and the summer he signed for Chelsea was basically Chelsea put in an unbelievable amount of leg work, then when he came on the market that summer and Liverpool thought ‘maybe there’s an opportunity at the last’.
“But the whole thing was they hadn’t been speaking to his agent for five or six months and Chelsea did all the leg work and the player, rightly or wrongly, showed that bit of loyalty and had already given his word.”
Liverpool may have missed out on their £111m man, but they have since sourced a replacement in the form of Ryan Gravenberch and won the Premier League title, suggesting they won’t mind too much.
How do Ryan Gravenberch and Moises Caicedo compare?
This comparison would not have been able to happen last season after Ryan Gravenberch was reduced to being a bit-part player under Jurgen Klopp and Caicedo struggled to rekindle any of his Brighton form.
However, both players have sparked into life this season and become integral to their teams’ success, making it a discussion that is worth having.
Premier League stats this season Ryan Gravenberch Moises Caicedo
Appearances 37 38
Tackles 69 114
Interceptions 60 49
Recoveries 193 229
Duels won 184 236
Stats from the Premier League and correct as of 05/06/2025
Although Caicedo beats Gravenberch in most statistics, the £77m difference in transfer fees paid is not that noticeable, with performances to-the-eye also perhaps giving the Dutchman the edge.
With his ball carrying ability and willingness to take players on, Gravenberch has been a revelation this season for Liverpool and it is no surprise that he won the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award.