Brighton have rejected a £60m bid from Arsenal for midfielder Moises Caicedo and they’ve repeated that he’s ‘not for sale’ in January, according to reports.
Shortly after transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Arsenal had made a bid for Caicedo, The Athletic journalist David Ornstein confirmed it had been rejected by the Seagulls.
It is understood that Brighton will stand firm over their transfer stance and will not allow Arsenal to buy the Ecuador international in the middle of the season.
Ornstein wrote in The Athletic: “Arsenal have had a £60million fixed bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo rejected.
“Brighton’s position is that Caicedo is not for sale in the January transfer window — and that this will not change.
“Arsenal are keen on the 21-year-old as they are looking to sign a central midfielder. They have been exploring a deal for Caicedo in recent days and have now made a firm move for him in the final few days of the window. But Brighton have rejected this bid.
“A new player in midfield was a long-term target for the Premier League leaders, but this has been exacerbated by injury concerns over Mohamed Elneny.
“The north London club do have considerable funds to strengthen the squad in this window, as shown by their failed pursuit of Mykhailo Mudryk.”
CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has also reported that the bid from Arsenal falls below Brighton’s valuation but that Caicedo’s new agent is still “pushing” for a January exit.
Jacobs wrote on Twitter: “Arsenal have now bid for Moises Caicedo. £60m offer, as @FabrizioRomano first reported, is still below Brighton’s valuation. But those close to negotiations feel it’s unreasonable for Caicedo to be valued higher than the initial fee Real paid for Aurelien Tchouameni.
“There is no doubt Caicedo, and his new agents, are pushing for a January exit. Although Caicedo said he’s ‘focused’ on Brighton, a late window move is still very possible. Chelsea haven’t given up either.”
Another journalist, who appears regularly on talkSPORT, also tweeted: “#AFC would not get Caicedo for £60m and #BHAFC don’t want to sell this window.”
And 90min transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey added: “Brighton have no intention of selling Moises Caicedo this month despite new approach, this time from Arsenal – whose value of £60m is way off. Brighton standing firm, not happening this month.”
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