According to a report from Mirror, Arsenal have seen an improved bid of £70 million for Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion. It is understood that the Gunners were looking for a defensive midfielder to complete their transfer business for January to ensure that they lift the title at the end of this season. However, a single piece of the puzzle remains to be solved as the Seagulls maintain their stance.
Caicedo’s Impressive Run Of Form In The Premier League This Season
Caicedo has had a brilliant campaign with the Seagulls so far as he has put in some influential displays defensively in the middle of the park. The Ecuadorian midfielder has found the back of the net on one occasion and picked up an assist over eighteen appearances for the Seagulls so far this season.
The Santo Domingo-born sensation has been reliable in the centre of the park as he has averaged 2.9 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 2.6 long balls and 1.1 key passes per game in the Premier League.
He has also been accurate with his ball distribution after completing 87.9% of his attempted passes in the English top flight (stats via whoscored).
Should Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta Stop His Pursuit?
Caicedo has a solid presence in the midfield areas; as he can make some clever interceptions and doesn’t mind putting his foot into a tackle. He excels at marking the opposition attackers and does well to shield the backline. Even though the Brighton midfielder is just 1.78 meters tall, Caicedo can surprisingly dominate his opponents in aerial duels which makes him a brilliant addition to the Gunners
However, negotiating further would be futile as Roberto De Zerbi and the Seagulls are reluctant to let their prized asset leave in the middle of the season. Rejecting a bid of £70 million makes it even more clear that they won’t budge with less than a day remaining in the transfer market.
So Arteta would be wise to stop his pursuit of Caicedo’s signature and look for other suitable alternatives in the market if he can. The Gunners already boast a talented midfield department so they will need to find a way to keep the momentum going at the Emirates Stadium even after suffering a blow in this deal.
