Arsenal checked in with Moises Caicedo’s camp while negotiations with West Ham United for Declan Rice were stalling, according to a report.

The Athletic report that Declan Rice has long been viewed as a vital signing for Arsenal, with no capacity for switches to alternative targets.

However, the Gunners did start to become nervous at one stage of negotiations with West Ham, when progress appeared to be slow.

At that point, Arsenal checked in with Moises Caicedo’s camp, as they viewed him as the only other option at the level required for their return to Champions League football.

Arsenal had obviously made a previous move for Caicedo in January, bidding £60m and then returning with a second bid of £70m.

But that was only after the Gunners had seriously investigated a January move for Rice, which proved impossible.

Fortunately, Arsenal eventually managed to agree a deal with West Ham for Rice, so there was no need to switch to a second-choice target.

That was a good thing too, as Arsenal’s pursuit of Kai Havertz had been dependent on the belief he would be able to play alongside Rice and Martin Odegaard.

If the Rice deal had fallen through, the Havertz move would also have made less sense.

Whether Arsenal might still consider going back for Caicedo remains to be seen, and you’d imagine it will require some major sales first.

Brighton appear to be asking for close to the same fee as Arsenal paid for Rice to sell Caicedo this summer. So the ship may have sailed, despite Arsenal clearly expressing an interest in consecutive windows.