Even if the rationale does not make sense at all, Liverpool’s $111 million bid for Moises Caicedo has been referred to as a “PR stunt.”
Liverpool were ready to sign Caicedo from Brighton earlier this month in a British record deal for up to £111 million.
Even though the club had previously been interested in Romeo Lavia, the bid ultimately failed when the midfielder chose Chelsea.
Caicedo informed Jurgen Klopp that he would rather transfer to London and sign with Chelsea for £115 million after declining a physical in Merseyside.
Following that, Lavia did the same, switching from Southampton to Chelsea in spite of Liverpool’s repeated interest. Wataru Endo was subsequently recruited to Anfield in its place.
It was a surprise development for the Reds, ranging from a £111 million bid for Caicedo to a £16 million contract for Endo, who admitted he was unaware of any interest until days before he arrived.
Some have even speculated that it was a PR stunt by the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group.
2PAW3CP During the Premier League game between Leeds United and Brighton and Hove Albion on March 11, 2023, at Elland Road in Leeds, the United Kingdom, Moises Caicedo #25 of Brighton & Hove Albion is seen. (Image by News Images/Flynn Duggan)
On Sky Sports News on Monday, former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock presented his case for the hypothesis that it was a “PR stunt.”
Warnock stated, “I’m still not sure that the money for Caicedo was there.
“Considering that Caicedo was moving to Chelsea in any case, I believe it was somewhat of a publicity hoax.
It essentially said, “We’ll try to keep the fans a little bit happy by making that bid.”