Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has claimed that Chelsea have only signed Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia because the Reds were linked with the two midfielders.
The Blues confirmed the signing of Romeo Lavia on Friday morning, and the Belgian could now play alongside Moises Caicedo when his new side take on West Ham United at the London Stadium tomorrow.
Discussing Chelsea and Todd Boehly’s purchase of both players in his column for the Daily Mail, Souness said: “He’s paid a combined £173million for Caicedo a 21-year-old midfielder with one year’s experience of the Premier League at Brighton, and Romeo Lavia, a 19-year-old with a year at Southampton because they were both linked with Liverpool.
“The same question applies now as on the day when Boehly announced himself as Chelsea’s sporting director: Who’s he listening to?”
It has been a busy transfer window for Chelsea. As well as Caicedo and Lavia, they have also signed the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Axel Disasi, who scored against Souness’ former side last weekend.
Graeme Souness’ theory is crazy
Honestly, with Souness being a former Liverpool player, his take here just sounds a bit bitter.
Chelsea had a genuine reason for signing both Caicedo and Lavia. Mauricio Pochettino needed midfield reinforcements after losing N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all in the same transfer window.
The Blues also tried to sign Caicedo back in January, with The Athletic reporting at the time that they had a £55m bid for the Ecuadorian rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion. Their interest in him was not new and the same can be said when it comes to Lavia.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea tried to buy the 19-year-old in the last summer transfer window, right after his move from Manchester City to Southampton. It shows just how highly rated he is at Stamford Bridge.
When you consider all of the above, then, it is quite far-fetched to suggest that Chelsea only signed Caicedo and Lavia because Liverpool wanted them.
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