Liverpool trumped again
The article first appeared on 14 August and was subsequently updated with Southampton’s confirmation of the negotiations
Liverpool FC apparently has to take the next defeat on the transfer market – and once again give way to Chelsea FC. As at first “The Athletic” reported, Southampton’s courted midfielder Roméo Lavia has opted for a move to the Blues. A final agreement between the “Saints” and the Londoners is considered a formality because of the good relations. Two days later, Fabrizio Romano gave the transfer his famous “Here we go“.
In addition, Jason Wilcox, sports director of the “Saints”, confirmed to reporters Mark Wyatt: “We had an offer from Liverpool which we accepted, then Chelsea came to the table. We are currently in negotiations with Chelsea but I am confident that something will be settled in the next week or so.”
With Nkunku, Havertz & Caicedo: Chelsea FC’s most expensive purchases
25 Diego Costa | 2014/15 by Atlético Madrid
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Transfer fee: €38m
As of August 15, 2023
25 Michael Essien | 2005/06 by Olympique Lyonnais
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Transfer fee: €38m
25 Kalidou Koulibaly | 2022/23 by SSC Napoli
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Transfer fee: €38m
24 Benoît Badiashile | 2022/23 by Monaco
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Transfer fee: €38m
23 Didier Drogba | 2004/05 by Marseille
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Transfer fee: €38.5 million
22 Michy Batshuayi | 2016/17 by Marseille
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Transfer fee: €39m
21 Tiemoué Bakayoko | 2017/18 by Monaco
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Transfer fee: €40 million
20 Hakim Ziyech | 2020/21 by Ajax
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Transfer fee: €40 million
19 Andriy Shevchenko | 2006/07 by Milan
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Transfer fee: €43.9 million
18 Axel Disasi | 2023/24 by AS Monaco
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Transfer fee: €45 million
17 Mateo Kovacic | 2019/20 by Real Madrid
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Transfer fee: €45 million
16 Ben Chilwell | 2020/21 by Leicester City
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Transfer fee: €50.2 million
15 Timo Werner | 2020/21 by RB Leipzig
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Transfer fee: €53m
14 Raheem Sterling | 2022/23 by Man City
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Transfer fee: €56.2 million
13 Jorginho | 2018/19 by SSC Napoli
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Transfer fee: €57 million
12 Fernando Torres | 2010/11 by Liverpool FC
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Transfer fee: €58.5 million
11 Christopher Nkunku | 2023/24 by RB Leipzig
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Transfer fee: €60 million
10 Christian Pulisic | 2018/19 by BVB
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Transfer fee: €64 million
9 Marc Cucurella | 2022/23 from Brighton
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Transfer fee: €65.3 million
8 Alvaro Morata | 2017/18 by Real Madrid
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Transfer fee: €66 million
7 Mykhaylo Mudryk | 2022/23 by Shakhtar Donetsk
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Transfer fee: €70 million
5 Kepa | 2018/19 by Athletic Bilbao
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Transfer fee: €80 million
5 Kai Havertz | 2020/21 by Bayer Leverkusen
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Transfer fee: €80 million
4 Wesley Fofana | 2022/23 by Leicester City
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Transfer fee: €80.4 million
3 Romelu Lukaku | 2021/22 by Inter Milan
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Transfer fee: €113m
2 Moises Caicedo | 2023/24 by Brighton & Hove Albion
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Transfer fee: €116m + €17m in bonuses
As a fee, additional payments of 50 million to 60 million pounds – the equivalent of 58 million to 70 million euros – are in the room. So Lavia could soon become the most expensive U20 midfielder in the world. The previous leader is Renato Sanches (25, PSG), for whom FC Bayern transferred 35 million euros to Benfica in 2016. Most recently, Chelsea agreed with Moisés Caicedo (21) and thus outperformed the LFC, although the Reds had already agreed on a record deal with Brighton & Hove Albion and coach Jürgen Klopp confirmed the upcoming transfer. The Ecuadorian midfielder, however, wanted to be true to his word and only to Chelsea.
Lavia and Caicedo together cost Chelsea at least 174 million
In the package, at least 174 million euros are due for the former Liverpool players Lavia and Caicedo – without taking bonuses into account. The Belgian national player Lavia only joined Manchester City in 2022 for a fee of 12.3 million euros. Liverpool turned down Southampton with an offer of around 53 million euros. The Reds were reportedly of the opinion that the 58 million requirement for a talent with the manageable experience of 29 Premier League games was too high.
The Southampton youngster would be the next teenager in midfield for new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, who oversees by far the youngest team in the Premier League – his most experienced central player is currently 23-year-old Conor Gallagher.
A look at the statistics shows why Chelsea and Liverpool are willing to pay very high, even record, amounts for Caicedo and Lavia. Of all midfielders aged 22 and under in the Premier League, these two and Everton’s Amadou Onana (21) recorded the most interceptions. They are also among the top 5 of their peers in terms of ball retrievals, ground duels won, tackles, blocked passes, key passes and total number of passes – often taking first place with Caicedo.
Kane, Messi, Neymar & Co.: The top transfers in summer 2023
Lionel Messi | PSG -> Miami | Market value: €35 million
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free transfer
This gallery lists the summer transfers of 2023 that are most expensive by fee or most valuable by market value – as of August 15.
Orkun Kokcu | Feyenoord -> Benfica | Market value: €35 million
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Transfer fee: €25 million
Giacomo Raspadori | Sassuolo -> Napoli | Market value: €35 million
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Transfer fee: €26 million
Riyadh Mahrez | Man City -> Al Ahli | Transfer fee: €35 million
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Market value: €20 million
Nicholas Jackson | Villarreal -> Chelsea | Transfer fee: €37 million
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Market value: €30 million
Tino Livramento | Southampton->Newcastle | Transfer fee: €37.2 million
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Market value: 25 million euros
James Ward-Prowse | Southampton -> West Ham | Market value: €38 million
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Transfer fee: €34.8 million
Mateo Kovacic | Chelsea -> Man City | Market value: €38 million
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Transfer fee: €29.1 million
Edson Alvarez | Ajax -> West Ham | Transfer fee: €38 million
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Market value: €35 million
Xavi Simons | PSV -> PSG | Market value: €40 million
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Transfer fee: €4 million thanks to a buyback clause
Xavi Simons | PSG -> RB Leipzig | Market value: €40 million
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loan
Mickey van de Ven | Wolfsburg -> Tottenham | Transfer fee: €40 million
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Market value: 30 million euros
Pedro Porro | Sporting -> Tottenham | Transfer fee: €40 million (obligatory purchase)
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Market value: €40 million
Jurrien Timber | Ajax -> Arsenal | Market value: €42 million
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Transfer fee: €40 million
Loïs Openda | RC Lens -> RB Leipzig | Transfer fee: €38.5 million
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Market value: €35 million
Harvey Barnes | Leicester -> Newcastle | Transfer fee: €44 million
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Market value: €35 million
Pau Torres | Villarreal -> Aston Villa | Market value: €45 million
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Transfer fee: €33 million plus bonuses
Axel Disasi | Monaco -> Chelsea | Transfer fee: €45 million
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Market value: €30 million
Lucas Hernandez | FC Bayern -> PSG | Transfer fee: €45m + €5m in bonuses
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Market value: €45 million
Fabino | Liverpool -> Ittihad Club | Transfer fee: €46.7 million
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Market value: €42 million
Goncalo Ramos | Benfica -> PSG | Market value: €50 million
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Loan (purchase option)
Milan Skriniar | Inter -> PSG | Market value: €50 million
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free transfer
Dejan Kulusevski | Juventus -> Tottenham | Market value: €50 million
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Transfer fee: €30 million (purchase option)
Sergej Milinković-Savić | Lazio -> Al Hilal | Market value: €50 million
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Transfer fee: €40 million
Matheus Cunha | Atlético -> Wolves | Transfer fee: €50 million (obligatory purchase)
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Market value: €25 million
Ousmane Dembele | Barcelona -> PSG | Market value: €60 million
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Transfer fee: €50 million
Andre Onana | Inter -> Man United | Transfer fee: €52.5 million
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Market value: €35 million
Moussa Diaby | Bayer 04 -> Aston Villa | Transfer fee: €55 million
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Market value: €50 million
Ruben Neves | Wolves -> Al-Hilal | Transfer fee: €55 million
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Market value: €40 million
Malcolm | Zenith -> Al-Hilal | Transfer fee: €60 million
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Market value: €30 million
James Maddison | Leicester -> Tottenham | Market value: €60 million
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Transfer fee: €46.3 million
Min Jae Kim | Napoli -> Bayern Munich | Market value: €60 million
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Transfer fee: €50 million
Manuel Ugarte | Sporting -> PSG | Transfer fee: €60 million
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Market value: €50 million
Sandro Tonali | AC Milan -> Newcastle | Transfer fee: €64 million
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Market value: €50 million
Mason Mount | Chelsea -> Man United | Transfer fee: €64.2 million
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Market value: €60 million
Alexis Mac Allister | Brighton->Liverpool | Market value: €65 million
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Transfer fee: €42 million
Dominik Szoboszlai | Leipzig -> Liverpool | Transfer fee: €70 million
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Market value: €55 million
Rasmus Hojlund | Atalanta -> Manchester United | Transfer fee: €75 million
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Market value: €45 million
Kai Havertz | Chelsea -> Arsenal | Transfer fee: €75 million
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Market value: €55 million
Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig -> Chelsea | Market value: €80 million
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Transfer fee: €60 million
Neymar | PSG -> Al Hilal | Transfer fee: €80 million
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Market value: 60 million euros
Josko Gvardiol | RB Leipzig -> Man City | Transfer fee: €90 million
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Market value: €75 million
Harry Kane | Tottenham -> Bayern Munich | Transfer fee: €100 million
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Market value: €90 million
Moises Caicedo | Brighton->Chelsea | Transfer fee: €116 million
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Market value: €75 million
Declan Rice | West Ham -> Arsenal | Transfer fee: €116.6 million
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Market value: €90 million
Jew Bellingham | BVB -> Real Madrid | Market value: €120 million
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Transfer fee: €103 million
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