Arsenal submit third Moises Caicedo bid – Fabrizio Romano

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 27 Jan 2023 21:22 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal launched a third transfer bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Gunners are vying with Chelsea for the signing of the Ecuador international player, who Brighton have played at £100 million valuation on his head.

Arsenal, though, fell short of that mark, according to Romano. His information is that Mikel Arteta’s side only bid £60m, which remains the best offer that Brighton have had during January.

Indeed, news quickly broke via David Ornstein that Brighton had rejected that deal.

MORE: How Arsenal would line up with £75m Caicedo

Previously, Chelsea had made a verbal proposal worth £55m, which was similarly knocked back by their Premier League rivals.

Despite the Gunners' offer being well short of Brighton's bullish public stance on Caicedo, FootballTransfers' information is that a deal might still be possible for the midfielder in January. A more realistic transfer figure is liable to be around the £75m mark, or perhaps even a little under that, but that will be reliant on the structure of the deal being favourable to the Seagulls - probably meaning a large up-front payment and fewer instalments.

Romano reports that Arsenal are still "pushing" to get this transfer over the line, with this stage of negotiations set to be decisive.

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Arsenal's Caicedo alternatives

While Caicedo may be Arsenal's focus currently, they are keeping their options open for alternative signings.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has made the Gunners his leading priority after of the summer transfer window, when they might also be able to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. They are also closely linked with a move for young Vitoria midfielder Ibrahima Bamba. Furthermore, Everton's Amadou Onana was mentioned earlier this week, although the Toffees appear to have put the brakes on any potential deal as they battle relegation.

These players appear to be on the back burner for now.

Instead, given the hype around Caicedo and the interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool, it would be a huge statement of intent if Arsenal were to land him in January.