24 August 2023 , 06:55
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Newcastle tried to sign Moises Caicedo during Steve Bruce's time in charge - but the midfielder rejected them for Brighton.
Caicedo, 21, recently completed a £115million move from the Seagulls to Chelsea. The Ecuador international has become the most expensive signing in Premier League history, eclipsing the £107m Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez just seven months ago.
Yet Caicedo career could've taken a different path, as Newcastle tried to sign him back in January 2021. Bruce was their manager at the time and became a big fan of the emerging talent after the club's chief scout spotted him playing for Independiente del Valle.
Newcastle had a £4.5m bid accepted by the Ecuadorian club, but so did Brighton. Caicedo decided to joint the latter team, allowing them to cash in on his talent when Premier League rivals Chelsea came calling two-and-a-half years later.
Bruce, who was in charge of Newcastle between July 2019 and October 2021, made the stunning revelation during an appearance on William Hill's and Footy Accumulators' No Tippy Tappy Football podcast with fellow manager Sam Allardyce.
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Bruce said: "When I was at Newcastle we tried to sign Moises Caicedo for £4.5m and I remember thinking what a good player he was. The chief scout at Newcastle, Steve Nixon, came and told me that I had to see him play and that he was sensational.
"He ended up choosing Brighton instead of Newcastle and that will go down as one that we missed out on because now he's gone on to become the British record transfer fee for £115m, but he is a top, top player."
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Moises Caicedo has joined Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea (Matt Impey/REX/Shutterstock)Chelsea's huge investment in Caicedo is a risk considering he's completed just one full season in the Premier League. Yet the midfielder is Brighton's reigning Player of the Season and impressed at last year's World Cup in Qatar, scoring against Senegal.
Caicedo was initially expected to join Liverpool after Brighton accepted an offer, but Chelsea managed to lure the youngster to Stamford Bridge. Romeo Lavia also snubbed the Reds for the Blues after completing a £58m move from Southampton.
Caicedo said: "I am so happy to join Chelsea! I am so excited to be here at this big club and I didn’t have to think twice when Chelsea called me, I just knew I wanted to sign for the club. It's a dream come true to be here and I can’t wait to get started with the team."
Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added: "Moises has proved himself as a standout player in European football over the past 18 months, and we are thrilled to add him to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
"Moises possesses a rare midfield skill set and is a player we've been targeting for some time. We believe he will make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge this season - and in the years ahead."