Moises Caicedo will be excluded from training with Brighton until the transfer window ends, after making a social media transfer request in light of Arsenal’s bid for him.
On Friday, Arsenal had a £60m bid for Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton and Hove Albion, who insist the player is not for sale in the January transfer window.
Caicedo responded on social media, in a thread in which he wrote that he “[wants] to take up this magnificent opportunity” and “bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton, which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful”.
My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador. I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful.
— Moisés Caicedo (@MoisesCaicedo55) January 27, 2023
The post in full said, “I am grateful to Mr. Bloom and Brighton for giving me the chance to come to the Premier League and I feel I have always done my best for them. I always play football with a smile and with heart.
“I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador.
“I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful.
“The fans have taken me into their hearts and they will always be in my heart so I hope they can understand why I want to take up this magnificent opportunity.”
Following that post, The Athletic report that Brighton told Caicedo to stay away from training until after the January transfer window, and he won’t take part in their FA Cup tie against Liverpool on Sunday.
But Brighton’s position remains that he’s not for sale, and they expect him to stay for the second half of the season.
Caicedo was reportedly happy to wait until the summer for Chelsea to come back in for him, but Arsenal’s bid has changed things, with the opportunity to immediately take part in a title race.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal are expected to improve their bid, but Jack Rosser claims Brighton have held further talks with the Gunners and informed them directly that Caicedo is categorically not for sale.
Brighton have taken these kinds of strong stances before in the past, notably with Marc Cucurella. The report on Cucurella’s exclusion from training reads remarkably similarly, shortly before his move to Chelsea.
But in this case, the added detail is that Brighton are so insistent that Caicedo isn’t for sale at all. With Cucurella, it was just about getting to their valuation.
This looks like a very difficult deal to get done in the next few days.