It is being reported that Man Utd have “lived to regret” not signing Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo during the summer transfer window.
Erik ten Hag was backed during the summer as United splashed out around £216m on new players.
They eventually managed to strengthen where they needed to as significant fees went on Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez.
United are still in need of a new striker and they were also linked with a move for Brighton’s Caicedo.
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The 20-year-old has gained admirers in recent months as he has been a regular for Brighton since the start of this year.
Caicedo has played in all 11 of Brighton’s Premier League games so far this season after he was considered by Man Utd.
The midfielder even admitted during pre-season that he “would have thought about it a lot” had he received an offer.
The Ecuador international only cost the Seagulls £4.5m in 2020 but his value has skyrocketed since then.
South American football expert Tim Vickery has now suggested that Man Utd regret not signing Caicedo.
“Man Utd could have had him first and really for a song. They thought the deal was too complex, I think,” Vickery told Give Me Sport.
“But, for the amount of money, it was worth taking a chance on him and I think they’ve lived to regret that since.
“That’s the direction that he’s certainly going in because I think any club can do with a midfielder with those all-round characteristics.”
Chelsea boss Graham Potter was still at Brighton at the time of this interest from Man Utd. He indicated that a bid of £100m was needed for them to consider letting Caicedo leave.
“In football you never know, but we are quite calm and confident,” said Potter, who joined Chelsea a mere couple of weeks later.
“You’d probably get his boots for that from the chairman – maybe! £100m? They can try. It doesn’t surprise me that people are looking at him because he is playing at a fantastic level.
“As soon as you do research on him you realise he is a top kid, great person, young, playing in the Premier League, has all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level.”
Roberto De Zerbi has replaced Potter at Brighton and he is also a big admirer of Caicedo, who “could become one of the best” in the league.
“Caicedo is improving so much the quality of his play. Caicedo, for me, could become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and in Europe.
With Caicedo, I don’t see anything not at the top level. And he is only 20, he is very young, so he can learn and improve more. He has no limit.”
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