EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal close in on Caicedo after learning Brighton's asking price

Steve Kay

• 31 May 2023 11:15 BST
• 3 min read

Brighton are confident that Arsenal will pay Moises Caicedo’s transfer fee, which would go a long way to sealing a move to the Emirates Stadium for the Ecuador international.

FootballTransfers understands that the personal terms that Caicedo agreed with Arsenal in January still stand and that the Gunners have held multiple conversations with the player’s representatives.

Furthermore, Arsenal know the Seagulls’ asking price, with the south coast side set to demand £75 million for the 21-year-old. Brighton believe that Mikel Arteta’s outfit will agree to that price.

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There is a possible sting in the tail for the Gunners, with new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp both strong admirers of the player. FootballTransfers has been told, however, that Caicedo’s aim is to play in the Champions League next season, putting Arsenal firmly in the driving seat to complete a deal.

Arteta’s side are back in for Caicedo after narrowly missing out on him in January. At that point, they felt the deal was virtually concluded and there is a sense that they are now going back in to tidy that up.

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How does this affect Declan Rice transfer?

Arsenal want two midfielders this summer, so signing Caicedo does not mean that they will pull out of a move for West Ham’s Declan Rice.

Rice is also believed to have made Arsenal his top priority for a move in the transfer window, with the Gunners having made exciting progress on this deal. The competition for the 24-year-old is intense, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich among the leading threats in this case.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has also been linked with a possible move to the Gunners, but the England man is an alternative should either of their leading two priorities fall through for any reason.