Man Utd and Arsenal target’s teammates ‘fearful’ of transfer

Tom Hancock

• 12 Jun 2023 20:10 BST
• 3 min read

One of Moises Caicedo’s Brighton teammates has expressed his ‘fear’ that the midfielder will leave this summer, amid talk of a move to Manchester United or Arsenal.

Chelsea have also been linked with the Ecuadorian international, who came close to joining Arsenal in January.

Caicedo, 21, was one of Brighton’s brightest sparks in 2022/23, as the Seagulls finished seventh in the Premier League to secure European qualification for the first time in the club’s history.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal fear losing Caicedo to Chelsea as agent demands more money

And Pervis Estupinan, who plays alongside Caicedo for club and country, seems fully aware of the fight Brighton are set to face to keep hold of the former Independiente del Valle man. The defender told local newspaper The Argus: “Having a player of Moi’s characteristics, we all fear that he will leave.

“If he stays, I will be very happy to keep playing alongside him and enjoying his football. If he goes, I wish him all the best because he is a good lad – a good professional. He is a machine.

“If he leaves, we will be opponents. All I’ll ask is he doesn’t give me a whack because he is very strong!”

MORE: Man Utd to battle Chelsea for €60m ‘keeper

Caicedo's campaign to remember

It’s been a meteoric rise for Caicedo – who was still away from Brighton on loan at Belgian outfit Beerschot less than 18 months ago.

But he has quickly become one of the Seagulls' most important and influential players, going from strength to strength under the management of Roberto De Zerbi and missing just one league fixture in 2022/23.

The same can be said of Caicedo’s international career: he started all three of Ecuador’s games at the 2022 World Cup, getting on the scoresheet in their final match against Senegal.