Craig Burley says Moises Caicedo should have joined Arsenal or Liverpool in 2023 as his transfer to Chelsea was the ‘wrong move’ and it is showing no signs of changing.
The 22-year-old joined the Blues last August after snubbing interest from Anfield to head to Stamford Bridge. Arsenal had also shown an interest in his signature after failing to secure a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion last January. Caicedo stayed on coach Mikel Arteta’s radar.
Brighton had even accepted a £111m offer from Liverpool for Caicedo’s transfer last August. But the midfielder made it clear that Chelsea were his priority and ultimately joined them in an initial £100m transfer. Add-ons could take his move up to a British club record £115m fee.
Arsenal and Liverpool targeted Caicedo before his transfer to Chelsea
Arsenal offered Brighton £60m for Caicedo’s transfer last January after Chelsea failed with a £55m bid, per the Evening Standard. But the Seagulls held firm at their £75m asking price in the winter window. Even though Caicedo had made a public transfer request to join Arsenal.
David Ornstein also told Sky Sports in May that Arsenal remained interested in a transfer for Caicedo for the summer. The Gunners were even open to signing the Ecuadorian alongside a move for Declan Rice. But they just signed Rice in a club-record deal from West Ham United.
The Premier League rivals fought for Caicedo’s transfer in 2023 after emerging as a key cog in Brighton’s squad. The Santo Domingo native had joined the Seagulls in February 2021 but only broke into their side in April 2022. He only went on to play 45 English top-flight fixtures.
Burley feels Caicedo should have joined Arsenal or Liverpool in 2023
Yet while Caicedo only enjoyed one full Premier League season at the Amex, he produced an array of robust displays. The 38-cap international was often the Seagulls’ engine and offered a composed presence. He also adapted to various roles, including slotting in as a right-back.
But life in west London has not seen Caicedo continue to flourish, leaving Burley feeling like the midfielder made a mistake rejecting Arsenal and Liverpool for Chelsea. He has started 15 of his 17 Premier League games since joining the Blues along with four of his five cup games.
“At Brighton, he looked like a £100m player,” the former Blues midfielder said on ESPN. “He was a right player at Brighton. He was.
“Arsenal wanted him, Chelsea [and] Liverpool wanted him. Chelsea got him. He should’ve gone to Liverpool or Arsenal – not Chelsea. That’s a different story. He’s made the wrong move at this moment in time [and there is] no sign of that changing.”
Caicedo has left Burley feeling underwhelmed with Chelsea having often been sloppy on the ball. He has also struggled defensively, most recently at Middlesbrough in their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat this Tuesday. Caicedo lost Hayden Hackney for Boro’s crucial goal.
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