According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have submitted a £60m offer for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo as they aim to secure his signature before the transfer deadline but David Ornstein has already said the bid has been rejected.
With less than a week remaining in the January transfer window, the race for Moises Caicedo’s signature is heating up.
Chelsea and Arsenal are both reportedly interested in the 21-year-old Brighton midfielder, with the Gunners now said to have submitted a £60m bid for the Ecuador international.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that Chelsea had a £55m proposal for Caicedo rejected by Brighton earlier this month, and that the Seagulls are holding out for a fee closer to £70m.
Not long after Romano’s tweet, however, David Ornstein tweeted to say Arsenal’s bid had been rejected:
https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1618935932476092417
The interest in Caicedo is not surprising, as he has impressed in the Premier League this season. He is a versatile midfielder with a strong work ethic, and has been praised for his ability to play both defensively and offensively.
Caicedo has also been compared to Liverpool’s Fabinho due to his ability to play as a defensive midfielder, despite being a natural attacking player.
Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson has also weighed in on the transfer speculation, urging Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to make a move for Caicedo.
“Caicedo is a marvellous player,” Robinson told Football Insider. “I’ve watched in a person a couple of times this season and I was extremely impressed. He plays well beyond his years. I can’t believe he is just 21.”
Despite the interest from top clubs, Caicedo himself has said that he is focused on Brighton and not the transfer rumours.
“I am here, I’m playing every day. Things from outside don’t trouble me, nor does it take that focus away because I’m focused only on here,” he told Brighton’s official club website.
“I handle [the speculation] well.”
With the transfer deadline looming, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea or Arsenal will be able to secure the services of Moises Caicedo.
One thing is certain – the young Ecuadorian is a player with a bright future ahead of him and whichever team ends up signing him, they will be getting a talented and versatile addition to their squad.