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Liverpool’s midfield has been transformed over the past year-and-a-bit, with four new players coming in.

The Reds had been badly in need of an overhaul in the middle of the pitch in 2023, with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho running out of steam.

All in all, Liverpool lost five midfielders a year ago, with Henderson and Fabinho joining Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in being shown the Anfield exit door.

This left them badly in need of reinforcements.

Thankfully, the additions of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch have improved the Liverpool squad drastically.

And while Frank Leboeuf says Liverpool’s midfield is a ‘masterpiece‘ right now, they are still perhaps just missing that elite defensive midfielder.

Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Liverpool have dearly tried to bring in a player who can be the fulcrum of their midfield for years to come.

Right now, Gravenberch is doing an amazing job as the Reds sitting midfielder, performing an impressive double-team with Mac Allister.

But it is a fact that Liverpool tried to sign Moises Caicedo when he was leaving Brighton in 2023.

The Reds even had a bid accepted to the tune of a whopping £110m.

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However, Caicedo was set on joining Chelsea and turned down the move to Merseyside.

Despite this being the accepted version of events – and something Caicedo himself has confirmed – former Liverpool winger John Barnes has suggested a new theory over why the Ecuadorian didn’t end up signing.

READ MORE: What Liverpool are planning to do next about signing a defensive midfielder

“When you come to Liverpool you have to be part of a community,” Barnes explained to Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football.

“Interestingly, and I’m not saying anything about Moises Caicedo, but obviously they didn’t sign him for reason and he’s a great player,” adds the Liverpool legend.

“So, I think that Liverpool look at your character as well and they’ve been very fortunate that although Jurgen Klopp has gone, when Arne Slot says do something they do it because I think they’re those types of characters.”

While Liverpool are well known for assessing a player’s character before bringing them in, Barnes’ theory doesn’t seem especially likely here.

The fact is that the Reds got all the way to trying to negotiate terms with Caicedo in August 2023.

It was not a case of Liverpool pulling out, the Reds were still right there to sign the 22-year-old.

The player himself did not want the move.

Since then, things have obviously been a little difficult for Caicedo.
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