Arteta told ‘suitable’ bid can land top target; Arsenal ‘assured’ clause can ‘accelerate’ summer deal
Arsenal have reportedly received a ‘huge boost’ should they wish to pursue Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo in the summer.
The Gunners tried to land Caicedo in January but had two bids rejected by their Premier League rivals, who battered them 3-0 at the Emirates last Sunday.
After missing out on the Ecuadorian international, Mikel Arteta signed Jorginho from Chelsea for around £11million.
Speaking in March, Brighton chief executive Paul Barber insisted that Arsenal’s £70m bid for Caicedo was worth “half the player”.
Barber did also say that the Seagulls did not include a release clause in the contract Caicedo signed – which lasts until 2027 – after the winter transfer window.
“We don’t operate like that and we try and avoid things like that because they become such a big point of discussion in negotiations,” he told The Beautiful Game podcast.
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Despite the fact Barber says there is no release clause in Caicedo’s new deal, and that the club appear to see them as a non-negotiable, it has been reported that there is some sort of clause in Alexis Mac Allister’s contract.
The report says the ‘huge boost’ Arsenal have received is that Brighton are ‘resigned to losing’ the young midfielder ‘when a suitable bid arrives’.
Details of Caicedo’s transfer clause are not known, but the website have been ‘assured’ that it can help ‘accelerate’ a summer transfer.
Caicedo has been absolutely outstanding for Brighton this season and it is no surprise to see Mikel Arteta show an interest.
Arteta is eager to bolster his midfield in the summer and is also targeting West Ham captain Declan Rice.
It does not appear to be a case of signing one or the other with the Spanish manager set to be heavily backed when the transfer window opens.
While a new midfielder (or two) seems to be the priority for Arsenal, some fans would like to see Arteta bring in another forward.
Folarin Balogun is currently enjoying a wonderful loan spell with Stade Reims and will probably not be happy to come back and fight for a place alongside Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus.
Transfer expert David Ornstein has said that it is not likely Arteta will try to sign a new striker this summer.
“Balogun is expected to be sold,” Ornstein said on Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE channel.
“Nketiah not so long ago got a new contract, so you suspect they will continue with him, and Jesus – I don’t hear big suggestions that they will be bringing in a striker.
“I think they are focused on other positions.”