Chelsea and Liverpool transfer battle branded 'madness' as £173m Caicedo and Lavia deals agreed

Liverpool attempted to sign Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia during the summer transfer window, but Chelsea stepped in and got those deals over the line

Michail Antonio has branded the £173million transfer battle between Chelsea and Liverpool as 'madness'.

Having completed a £115million swoop for Moises Caicedo from Brighton on Monday afternoon, Chelsea promptly turned their attentions to Southampton prospect Romeo Lavia and a move which could reach £58million with add-ons has since been agreed. football.london understands a medical has been pencilled in for the 19-year-old.

Liverpool wanted to sign both players this summer, too, but Mauricio Pochettino and key figures in the boardroom at Stamford Bridge successfully fended-off that competition. Incidentally, the two clubs faced each other and drew 1-1 in their Premier League curtain raiser on Sunday afternoon.

Caicedo is primed and ready to make his Chelsea debut against West Ham, and Antonio, this Sunday afternoon in what promises to be an unmissable London derby. However, there is chance Lavia - whose impending transfer must still be rubber-stamped - could have to wait for his own introduction.

Antonio chatted about the ongoing transfer battle on The Footballer's Football Podcast which he co-created and presents alongside Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson. On their latest episode, Antonio, 33, said: "It's madness.

"Liverpool go bid, bid, bid, then Chelsea go; 'Nah, man is stepping in. This is my player now'.

"They got him because [Moises] Caicedo is a massive Chelsea fan. Then, the Southampton midfielder, Romeo Lavia, again, Liverpool [have bid] £60million accepted. Now, I'm hearing Lavia wants to go Chelsea as well. I'm like; 'What?' They are moving mad."

Although deals