Arsenal are considering a record third bid for Moises Caicedo after Brighton rejected their improved offer, as the Gunners refuse to give up.
According to Evening Standard, Arsenal will resume chasing Moises Caicedo and could launch a club-record third offer for the midfielder. Brighton & Hove Albion have already rejected two bids from the Gunners, with the latest being a £70 million proposal including add-ons.
Arsenal are serious about Moises Caicedo and are unlikely to give up on the 21-year-old midfielder before Tuesday’s transfer deadline. The league leaders want to shore up a key midfield position to ensure continuity in the title race in case Thomas Partey suffers an injury.
Partey is key to Mikel Arteta’s system, and Arsenal have suffered plenty in the past without the Ghanaian midfielder. Caicedo is one of several players the Gunners have monitored this month. But the 21-year-old midfielder is the only one for whom they have tabled a bid.
Arsenal launched two offers worth £60 million and £70 million, respectively. The latter included add-ons. But Brighton have remained adamant the player is not for sale this month. The Seagulls could find themselves in the mix for a European spot and do not want to lose the midfielder.
Understand Arsenal second bid for Moises Caicedo worth £70m fee with add ons included has been immediately rejected by Brighton tonight. 🚨🔵🇪🇨 #AFC #BHAFC
Should Arsenal make a new proposal in the next 48 hours, it’d be a potential record fee for the club. pic.twitter.com/6mXNfsKI64
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2023
Alternatively, other sources claim they might back down if they receive a huge offer which could come in between £80 million to £100 million. Caicedo made his Premier League debut in April 2022 against Arsenal.
For a player who cost Brighton around £4.5 million and has started only 26 top-flight games, the Gunners feel very strongly about his profile and want him at the Emirates. Hence, Arsenal are not about to walk away from their top midfield target and, instead, launch a third bid that could shatter their club record.
The new bid could potentially reach at least £75 million, which would shatter the fee paid for Nicolas Pepe. Brighton’s valuations are unclear now, although Arsenal may know what it may take to land the top midfield target.
Caicedo also remains keen to join Arsenal, as he reflected with a social media post requesting Brighton to let him depart. The plea has not affected the club hierarchy. But recent comments from manager Roberto De Zerbi offer some hope for the Gunners.
The Brighton manager never mentioned the player was not for sale but suggested the Seagulls were ‘ready to go forward’ without Caicedo. Internally, Arsenal may have more information on Brighton’s stance, so they are willing to make a third bid. They will surely hope to find a solution and land their top target.
Meanwhile, Brighton are inching closer to signing Swedish talent Yasin Ayari from AIK. The midfielder could potentially replace Caicedo, which could be seen as another hint the Seagulls are willing to sanction a sale for the Ecuadorian before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
