Liverpool’s transfer policy this summer already seems very crazy. First it was decided not to bid on Bellingham, but to distribute the money among several players. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai were signed and the rumors about another 8er (Kone, Thuram, Gravenberch…). Suddenly you get unexpectedly very good offers for Fabinho and Henderson, but you are left without a “real” 6. You then offer a record fee and more than what Bellingham switched for for a player who has been flirting and in talks with Chelsea for months and get turned down by that player.
Now they are content with a short-term solution (Endo) on the 6, similar to what they did with Kabak and Arthur, in order to then probably commit a 1A solution on the 6 next year. Apparently the idea of signing a third 8 is back with the resurgence of Gravenberch rumours.
Sure, all a bit unfortunate because you couldn’t anticipate Saudi Arabia attacking the transfer market like this, but it still seems very amateurish to offer a record fee for a Caicedo who has been in leagues with Chelsea for months and probably only Liverpool used to put pressure on Chelsea to increase their offer.