Arsenal ‘to make third bid for Caicedo’ after Brighton snub £70m offer

Arsenal are reportedly set to make a third bid for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo after their two previous offers were swiftly rejected by the Seagulls. Mikel Arteta’s side are hoping to land their preferred midfield target this month to bolster the squad for their title charge and want to make the Ecuadorian their third January signing after Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior.

The Sun have claimed that after having bids of £60million and £70m rejected, Arsenal are set to test Brighton’s resolve once again with an offer of £70m, with a further £5m in add-ons. If accepted, Caicedo would become the Gunners’ record signing if the further add-ons are achieved, eclipsing the £72m spent on Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

Brighton have been adamant that Caicedo would not be sold in this window despite the 21-year-old’s public plea to leave, though the report claims that Roberto De Zerbi’s side would be open to selling the Ecuador international and are holding out for £80m. De Zerbi admitted that while he would like to keep the 21-year-old, he is prepared to go without him if a move does materialise.

“I would like that he can finish the season with us but we are ready to go forward without him,” De Zerbi said after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup. “I can understand him because when you are 21, and you receive the request of a big, big team that are playing in Europe.