Coach urges Arsenal and Man Utd target to take control of destiny

Tom Hancock

• 23 May 2023 18:13 BST
• 3 min read

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has conceded that the club are ultimately powerless to keep hold of Moises Caicedo this summer, amid apparent interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Seagulls rebuffed a £70m (€80.7m) approach from Arsenal for the Ecuador midfielder in January – but their resolve could be tested again during the upcoming transfer window, especially if Man Utd join the party.

One of Brighton’s key men in an historic season which has seen them qualify for Europe for the first time ever, Caicedo’s stock has continued to rise in recent months.

READ: Long-time Arsenal target has ENTICING release clause

And the 21-year-old’s manager knows that, at the end of the day, Caicedo’s future is out of Brighton’s hands – a sentiment he also extends to fellow midfield star Alexis Mac Allister, who is said to be close to agreeing a deal to join Liverpool. Speaking ahead of Brighton’s final home game of the campaign against champions Manchester City, De Zerbi said:

“We can offer Moises and Alexis the opportunity to play in Europe – our level is bigger now – they are very good guys and it will help.

“I think for myself and the club but also for the players… They have one life and we can’t decide for them.”

READ: Forgotten Man Utd wonderkid set for Bundesliga switch

A tried and trusted approach

Brighton’s success has been built on a model of identifying lesser-known young talent – much of it in South America, as in the case of Caicedo and Argentine World Cup winner Mac Allister – and selling them on for substantial profit.

Last summer, for example, the Seagulls sold Marc Cucurella to Chelsea for £56.6m (€65.2m) – well over three times the amount they paid for him just a year earlier.

The previous summer, Brighton made their record sale when academy product Ben White left for Arsenal in a £59.8m (€69m) move.

READ: Messi, Tielemans, De Gea and the best players available on free transfers this summer