Valencia urges Man Utd target to complete transfer - "Hopefully he can come"

Antonio Valencia has urged former club Manchester United to make a move for his compatriot Moises Caicedo after his impressive form for club and country.

United were linked with a cut-price move for Caicedo when the midfielder was still playing in his native Ecuador, Instead it was Brighton & Hove Albion who pounced, and the former Independiente del Valle star has already shown the club what they have been missing.

The 20-year-old, who previously spoke about his "dream" of playing for the Old Trafford club, scored his first Premier League goal against the Red Devils last season. He also impressed against them this term, standing out in a 2-1 Brighton win on the opening weekend, and Valencia is in no doubt about the player's quality.

"Hopefully Caicedo can go to a big team in England," Valencia told Studio Futbol (via The Sun ). "He is a humble boy, he was born to be great and hopefully he can come to Manchester United."

United aren't the only potential suitors, though, with Liverpool and Chelsea also mentioned in connection with a move. And a Stamford Bridge switch would see Caicedo reunited with Graham Potter, the manager who gave him his first taste of Premier League action.

"I think they are one of the best teams in the world and nobody would turn down an offer from Chelsea or any other club like that," Caicedo admitted earlier this month. "It'd be a dream to be in the best teams in the world and succeed there."

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Caicedo joined Brighton for less than £5m back in 2020. However, after an impressive start to life in England, a price tag of around £42m has been mooted, while Brighton are reportedly keen to extend a contract which currently runs until 2025.

"My dream is to play for Manchester United because I like English football.," the youngster said in late 2020. "The pace [in the Premier League] is very high, and Manchester United are my favourite club."

Caicedo has 23 senior caps for Ecuador, winning his first as a teenager in 2020. Valencia had played his final international game just one year earlier, and retired from all football in 2021.

The right-sided player spent the bulk of his career at United, having earlier turned out for the likes of Villarreal and Wigan Athletic in Europe. He made more than 200 Premier League appearances for the club under several different managers, and more than 300 in all competitions.

"Wigan was a unique experience, and then God gave me the opportunity to join Manchester United," Valencia said in his retirement announcement, having ended his career with Mexican side Queretaro. "I will never forget everything I experienced at Old Trafford."

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