Midfielder Moises Caicedo is set to snub an offer from Liverpool, clearing the way for him to complete a move to Premier League rivals Chelsea.
The Blues have been chasing the Ecuador international all summer but have so far been frustrated, with Brighton standing firm on their valuation of the 21-year-old.
But on Friday morning, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp announced at his press conference – ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener at Chelsea – that the Reds had agreed a fee with Brighton thought to be in the region of £110 million.
“I can confirm the deal with [Brighton] is agreed,” said Klopp. “Whatever that means because we want the player and not any kind of agreement, we will see.”
However, Caicedo is widely reported to have spurned Liverpool's advances, insisting he only wants to move to Stamford Bridge, with it now being up to Chelsea to thrash out a deal with Brighton.
Earlier in the day, Seagulls coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed Caicedo would be leaving the Amex Stadium.
“I would like to answer only one time [on Caicedo],” said the Italian. “I’ve already forgotten Moises. Moises is leaving and is not important for me now.”
Brighton are set to make an enormous profit on the Ecuadorian midfielder who joined them for just £4 million from Independiente del Valle in 2021. The reported asking price would top the previous British record of £107 million that Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez in January.
Premier League 2023/24 kits rated
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20: Burnley - Kicking off with the worst effort for the season we start with yo-yo club Burnley, who have seemingly entered into a secret, but hardly subtle, pact with their claret-and-blue brethren. They will all be marked down for this. Burnley's home kit belongs to West Ham. And unlike Villa or the Hammers, they've pinched a kit up for consideration by Watford as their away option for this season. Burnley / Twitter -
19: Aston Villa - That home kit belongs to Burnley! A slight improvement on the away shirt from last season, but I am not feeling the sky blue shorts. Getty Images / AFP -
18: West Ham - That home kit belongs to Aston Villa! The East Londoners usually knock it out of the park with their away kits, and this year is no exception. A lovely pure white strip with a claret trim, sadly let down by the sponsors who have the temerity to make their branding stand out. EPA / Getty Images -
17: Arsenal - It feels like the Arsenal have opted for the most garish of away kits in recent memory to mask the gold trim that embellishes a decent home kit. The gold, of course, would've looked quite snazzy if last year's runners-up had not have choked in the title run-in and earned them the coveted gold Premier League badging that I assume is the only thing clubs play for these days. Getty Images / AFP -
16: Fulham - A nice enough home shirt, but a tacky shocking pink away kit that's been done to death over the past few seasons. I suppose it'll help the hardy away faithful pick out their players in the rafters at St James' Park. AFP / Fulham / Twitter -
15: Everton - A good honest home kit supplied by Hummel. It is fitting and traditional and will serve well as the Toffees say goodbye to Goodison Park. Another "for goodness Stake.com" away kit - Everton have a history of sending their stars out in naff away kits – but not as bad as the one from last season. Getty Images -
14: Brentford - A commendable effort from the Bees sustainability efforts to keep the same away shirt from last season. The new home kit is fairly fresh and nice of the red stripes to blend into black towards the shorts. Getty Images -
13: Wolves - I don't feel offended or inspired – perhaps something the City of Wolverhampton Council could put on the welcome signs along the A41. Sensible home kit and a fairly decent away one. Wolverhampton Wanderers / Twitter -
12: Nottingham Forest - Another good old-fashioned honest home shift for the two-time champions of Europe. Forest were marked down last season for a truly awful away kit, and this one is a little divisive too. It could be a passed off as a bit pre-match training shirt, but it's just subtle enough to see the kick-off whistle in my book. Getty Images / Nottingham Forest / Twitter -
11: Crystal Palace - Last season's best kit merchants have fallen back into the pack. While the 22/23 vintages all played on the crayon scrawl effect for their stripes, this year's suppliers at Macron have been safer with "just alright" halves. The textbook diagonal sash away kit is sedate, but still lovely. Getty Images -
10: Newcastle United - An improved Newcastle home shirt. It's an happier marriage of black and white stripes with a sponsor logo that doesn't overpower or get lost. The Boca-style away kit and Saudi-style third kit are both slightly better than this year's away shirt. Getty Images / Newcastle United / Instagram -
9: Bournemouth - A good strong home shirt paired with a really intriguing away kit. The fingerprint DNA is an unusual pattern and I like the fact they've retained similar away kit colours to last season. It's all about identity. Bournemouth / Twitter -
8: Chelsea - A really nice Chelsea home strip. Bold and they've played with the accents on the badge and the Nike swoosh. It's like seeing a shiny in a Panini sticker pack. The jury is still out on what it will look like with a sponsor, so it could fall back a few positions. The away kit (merely a leak right now) feels quite techy too, but with the colour choices, you feel they are more positioned to use their third kit this season. AFP -
7: Tottenham Hotspur - I really like the brilliant white. It's plain, but dazzles. The away kit (another leak, nothing official just yet) is also quite bold. Good choice of colours, the navy blue-black is an excellent contrast to the sparkling white, the pink embellishments pop and the lighter collar is caps it off. Getty Images -
6: Manchester United - We're here to talk about Manchester United's away kit, aren't we? The greeny-grey striped kit will be this year's big divider. A colleague believes it is too much in the realm of a rugby shirt, but I think it's really original and is one of those kits that looks better in the flesh rather than on a screen. The home kit is pretty. Getty Images / Manchester United / Twitter -
5: Liverpool - We also need to talks about Liverpool's away shirt first. I'm a sucker for a throwback kit, especially one that tips its hat to a certain year. In this case it's the not-so-vintage year of 1996 and the FA Cup final defeat to Man Utd. You can vividly recall Eric Cantona threading his volley through a crowded box of Liverpool players wearing this garb. Hopefully, we'll see Salah and co kitted out in the cream Spice Boys suits at some point this season, too. Nice home kit. Getty Images / Liverpool / Twitter -
4: Manchester City - The only Puma kits on display in the Premier League and it's a great pairing. Last season's champions will be kitted out in a nice sky blue strip that's just doing enough to feel interesting. The away kit is a creamy white number that has patternings that hark back to the mid-90s. The maroon trim pops and the V-neck collar is surprisingly refreshing.Getty Images -
3: Brighton & Hove Albion - A great home shirt from the Seagulls, but it's the Bundesliga away kit that's piqued my interest. It's another sort of seaside theme with a sweet lime and liquorice humbug shirt. It's paired masterfully with neutral white shorts. It could have been an abomination, but Nike have pulled it off. Brighton & Hove Albion / Twitter / AFP -
2: Luton Town - It's partly heritage that shot Luton up the table, but also partly novelty that we get to rank an orange kit again in the Premier League. While Blackpool's tangerine is always a bit too much for most palettes, Umbro have captured a dazzling home strip paying homage with the single white stripe over the club badge. I prefer the away kit, on the same theme, just opposite. A knockout pair of shirts. Luton Town / Twitter -
1: Sheffield United - It is great that kit manufacturers and clubs have just about escaped a period of garish kits ranging from training-top chic, to Aviva bus upholstery. The Blades return to the Premier League with the best set of kits. Bold, retro, no-nonsense and simple. It is hard to decide which one stands out, the simple home stripes or the tasty yellow away shirt. Getty Images / Sheffield United / Twitter
Meanwhile, Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino refused to talk directly about Caicedo but admitted strengthening in midfield was a priority.
When pressed on what he still needs in his squad, Pochettino said: “Many midfielders have left the squad and we have different options. We are working really hard but always being really respectful with the names that are there, the clubs and the players.”
Chelsea will welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday without Christopher Nkunku after the French forward needed surgery to fix a knee injury sustained on a bad pitch in the club’s final pre-season match in Chicago.
And Pochettino admitted the club are looking for a replacement for the £52 million summer signing from RB Leipzig, who is expected to be out for around four months.
He said: “We feel very sorry about him. He was doing well, he was very important for us. I think the quality is there, one of the best offensive players that can play in different positions that always is a big issue for us.
“Now it’s about not to think too much about the injuries and to be positive about when he can be again with us and recover as soon as possible in a good way.
“We are working in the market also, we are going to miss one player like this. The club is working, trying to find a solution, maybe short term, medium and long term to add the right profile for the team to perform for now.”
