Liverpool legend John Aldridge tells Chelsea they 'lack integrity'

Liverpool legend John Aldridge has slammed Chelsea in a rant over the Blues beating his former side to the signing of Moises Caicedo.

Jurgen Klopp's side had agreed a £111m deal to sign the 21-year-old from Brighton, only for the Ecuador international to snub the Reds in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea confirmed a British record £115m deal for Caicedo on Monday, in a massive blow for Liverpool who are desperately seeking a defensive midfielder before the end of the summer window.

Aldridge, who scored 63 goals in 104 appearances for the Reds in the late 1980s, has slammed Chelsea, insisting Liverpool are 'far bigger' and that the Blues 'bought' their way to success.

The 64-year-old said in his column with the Liverpool Echo: 'As soon as the player made clear he wanted to go to Chelsea over Liverpool, I didn’t want him at all. We are far bigger than Chelsea will ever be.

'Missing out on this transfer has not hurt me like when (Fernando) Torres left us to go there, that was awful and hard to stomach. Going to Chelsea? When I was at Oxford United, we beat them three times in the space of four months. They have bought their way to where they are.'

Aldridge went on to suggest that the 'London way of life' was a huge appeal for Caicedo and that Chelsea lack the 'history' which the Reds do.

He said: 'In terms of the reasons behind Caicedo choosing Chelsea over Liverpool, they are a London club and some players see that as a big pull. With the Louis Vuitton shop on Oxford Street and the London way of life, they view that as a huge attraction.

'Chelsea have got that, but they haven’t got the same selling point of Liverpool Football Club: history. We are a massive club in world football and that will always be there. If Caicedo wants to go to Chelsea, good riddance. We have to overcome this and trust Jurgen to get a player who can do that job.'

Aldridge, who won the league title and the FA Cup during his time with the Reds, also questioned Chelsea's integrity - pointing out their decision to pull out on a deal for Tyler Adams.

Chelsea triggered a £20m release clause to sign the USA captain from Leeds.

However, they have backed away from a deal, with Mail Sport reporting that the Blues feared how long he would be out with a hamstring injury.

Adams missed the end of last season as Leeds suffered relegation to the Championship, and has also missed their opening two games this campaign.

Aldridge said: 'The one thing I can’t understand with this whole thing is Chelsea’s integrity. They agreed to sign Tyler Adams from Leeds United, the medical was done, and they have seemingly pulled out to put the money towards Caicedo.

'How does that lad feel now? Adams now has to bounce back up to Leeds and wait for someone else. That is shocking and is a sign of the people now running Chelsea.'

Aldridge also slammed Chelsea owner Todd Boehly for 'buying a full squad, while getting rid of a full team in six months' - accusing the American of mistaking the Stamford Bridge club for a baseball team.

Caicedo's decision to snub Liverpool for Chelsea, looks likely to be repeated by Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, with the teenager agreeing a £50m fee for the Reds target.