EKO HOT BLOG reports that Arsenal have reportedly submitted a second bid worth £70m for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.
The Gunners have already done business with Brighton this month, signing winger Leandro Trossard for a deal that could rise to £26m.
They have also recruited defender Jakub Kiwior from Serie A side Spezia, but with a couple of days remaining in the transfer window, they are still searching for a new midfielder.
Mikel Arteta’s side have identified Caicedo as one of their main targets, and they have already had an initial £60m bid rejected by the Seagulls.
While Brighton have indicated that they are not willing to sell Caicedo this month, the 21-year-old recently took to social media to express his desire to join the Premier League leaders.
In response, the Seagulls told Caicedo to stay at home until after the transfer deadline, and as result, he missed Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup, where Kaoru Mitoma scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
According to Sky Sports News, Arsenal have tested Brighton’s resolve and submitted a second bid worth £70m, including add-ons.
Despite upping the fee, the Gunners saw their offer immediately rejected by the Seagulls, who have not changed their stance.
Although Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi stated that the club would be “ready to go forward” without Caicedo, he also claimed that keeping the midfielder would boost their prospects of qualifying for Europe, with the South Coast side currently sat in sixth place in the Premier League table.
Following the victory against Liverpool, De Zerbi told reporters: “It’s already difficult for me to be a coach – to be coach and chairman would be too difficult.
“Caicedo is a very good guy. I understand it when you are 21 and the chance of a big team in Europe. But I would like him to finish the season with us.
“(Chairman) Tony Bloom knows very well my opinion. We lost Trossard and if we also lose Caicedo it’s a problem for us if we want to fight for Europe. If we don’t lose Caicedo we are ready to fight.”
As well as attracting interest from Arsenal, he has also been linked with a move to Chelsea and Liverpool in January.
Brighton are keen to keep a player, who has started 18 of the club’s 19 Premier League games this season.
Caicedo joined the Seagulls from Independiente del Valle in 2021, and he has scored two goals and provided three assists in 31 appearances for the club, including one goal and one assist during the current campaign.
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