Arsenal are set to place a new bid for Moises Caicedo, with Brighton softening their stance on a sale but Chelsea providing competition.
Charlie Haffenden and Chris Wheatley report for LondonWorld that Arsenal are preparing to make a renewed offer for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, similar to the bid Brighton turned down in January.
But whilst Brighton refused to sell in the winter window, they’re now open to negotiations, having agreed with the midfielder that they’ll let him go for a substantial summer offer.
Meanwhile, Felix Johnston reports that Chelsea have informed Brighton they’ll match any bid from Arsenal for Caicedo, as they don’t want to be drawn into a bidding war.
In many ways, that would be good news for both bidding clubs, as they only need to agree a deal with Brighton.
The situation obviously becomes more complicated if they need to agree with Brighton and outbid a rival.
But ironically, you’d think Chelsea’s stance would be most damaging to their own chances.
Their primary advantage in the market for the last year has been that they’re willing to throw away whatever money the selling club wants.
If both clubs make the same offer and the decision is entirely up to the player, Arsenal surely have the upper hand.
The Gunners finished second in the league versus Chelsea’s 12th, and they have European football whilst the Blues don’t.
Chelsea’s huge squad was already overstuffed, and they now have even fewer games to share between too many players.
Fabrizio Romano reported in recent days that Moises Caicedo hasn’t yet agreed terms with any club, and he’s currently considering his options.
However, he expects to leave Brighton this summer, in part thanks to a pact he has with Roberto De Zerbi.
According to Romano, De Zerbi made an agreement with Caicedo when Brighton rejected Arsenal’s bids for him in January.
That agreement was that he would be allowed to leave in the summer, as long as Brighton received a bid of £70-80m. Not £100m, as is being claimed by some sources.
Chelsea are supposedly leading the race for Caicedo, but Romano adds that Arsenal’s interest also remains, alongside Manchester United.