Arsenal ready to ‘walk away’ from Caicedo deal after fresh bid is knocked back by Brighton | OneFootball

Arsenal are now set to end their attempts to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo before the end of this month, according to reports.

The Gunners made their second offer over the weekend of £65m plus another £5m in add-ons but Brighton immediately rejected the bid as they remain adamant the Ecuador international will be going nowhere.

Transfer expert brought an update early on Monday morning insisting that Caicedo “would love to join Arsenal” before the end of the transfer window after Brighton banished him from training until February 1.

Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “Arsenal have made a second bid for Moises Caicedo, £70m fee with add ons included, but it has again been immediately rejected by Brighton. If Arsenal decide to bid again in the final 48 hours of the transfer window, it could have to be a club-record offer.

“Caicedo would love to join Arsenal, he wants a top club move this January as it was his biggest dream. Still, in my experience, Brighton will not change their stance just because of player statement: it has to be a very good proposal according to their position, otherwise they are prepared to fight and keep the player.”

Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi issued his own update on Sunday with the Italian hopeing that Caicedo will remain at the Amex Stadium until the end of the season.

De Zerbi said after his side beat Liverpool 2-1: “Caicedo is a good guy. We will see. We hope he stays with us but this question for the club and Moises. In life you can make mistakes. We will see the best solution for the club, for Caicedo and for us.

“I would like Moises to finish the season with us, but we are ready to go forward without him. I respect his decision — I can’t be also the chairman, so we will see in the next days.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu are desperate to sign a new midfielder before tomorrow’s deadline with Mohamed Elneny picking up an injury last week, while they also had an injury scare with Thomas Partey in their FA Cup fourth round loss to Manchester City.

And now the Daily Mail claim that Arsenal ‘will consider walking away from a deal for Caicedo now this improved offer has failed’ with the Premier League club weighing up other options.