Football After Caicedo transfer
“Are you kidding me?” – Klopp stunned in the transfer dispute
Status: 2:02 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Not only on the pitch in a direct duel with Chelsea: Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp
What: Action Images via Reuters
Chelsea’s transfer record made Jürgen Klopp stop laughing. The coach must feel like a teenager who thinks he has won the most desirable girl in school. Only to find out that she was only using him.
Jurgen Klopp fell out of his face. That had nothing to do with Liverpool FC’s 1-1 (1-1) win at Chelsea at the start of the season – but it did have something to do with Sunday’s opponent. “You are kidding?” Klopp asked the Sky reporter: Are you kidding me? The Reds coach had just been asked how he felt about Moises Caicedo, whom Klopp thought he would have as a new signing, now making the move to Chelsea.
It was no joke, of course, but an unexpected twist in a stunning bidding: Caicedo (21), until then the hottest commodity on the British transfer market, appeared to have chosen Liverpool – but then apparently changed his mind. The midfielder is now switching from Brighton & Hove to the league competitor from London for a total of 133 million euros. The record change was officially confirmed on Monday.
“How is that possible?” asked Klopp, who couldn’t believe it. “Not my decision,” replied the journalist, who seemed almost embarrassed.
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The Reds’ German coach must have felt like a teenager who thought he’d won over the most desirable girl in school – only to realize she’d only been using him to get someone else interested.
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Kicker, Comunio, Kickbase
There is a suspicion that Caicedo, one of those coveted ‘Sixes’ that many top clubs are currently eyeing up, and his agents were only flirting with Liverpool to inflate the price. In addition to a base fee of 116 million euros, there are also 17 million bonuses that Chelsea are said to have also committed to. With 133 million euros, Caicedo would then even be more expensive than Enzo Fernandez (121 million). The Argentine world champion also switched to Chelsea from Benfica in January.
The releasing club is also happy: Brighton & Hove Albion receive a lot of money for Moises Caicedo
What: AFP/GLYN KIRK
Caicedo is said to be signing an eight-year contract in London. The unusually long term could be related to the fact that Chelsea have to be careful not to violate the rules of financial fair play. Financial Fair Play is a tool used by Uefa to ensure that clubs do not spend more than they earn.
Who gets Lavia?
But there are loopholes. It is currently still possible to convert the transfer fee in equal parts to the contract period. In winter, for example, Chelsea were able to extend the transfer fee for Mykhaylo Mudrik (€70 million) to eight and a half years in the balance sheet, as the Ukrainian signed for just that length of time. The other winter commitments Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke signed until 2030. Wesley Fofana and David Datro Fofana were tied until 2029.
For the new season, Chelsea have already spent 323 million euros in transfer fees for a total of seven new professionals – including 60 million for Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. In contrast, only 254.9 million euros were received. Like central defender Axel Disasi (45 million/AS Monaco), Nkunku received a six-year contract. Center forward Nicolas Jackson (37 million/Villarreal FC), midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu (27 million/Stade Rennes) and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (23 million/Brighton) signed until 2030.
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Nevertheless, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Sunday that he would like more reinforcements. Klopp couldn’t contain himself anymore. “Oh, that’s what all Chelsea managers want. And they usually get it,” he said.
Klopp could be right. Because there is also a duel between Liverpool and Chelsea for Romeo Lavia (19) from relegated Southampton FC. The Londoners, who offer 64 million euros, are currently said to have the edge. What makes things extra ludicrous: Lavia plays the same position as Caicedo.
