Arsenal have submitted a second offer for Moises Caicedo of £60m – plus £10m in add-ons – but Brighton are set to reject the offer, with the Seagulls demanding £80m for their star midfielder.
Caicedo stayed away from Brighton training on Saturday as he tries to force through a move to Arsenal or Chelsea.
The Ecuador international begged Brighton to let him leave in an Instagram message on Friday night after Sportsmail reported that he was considering handing in a transfer request.
Moises Caicedo stayed away from Brighton training on Saturday as he tries to push through a move to either Arsenal or Chelsea with the Gunners set to have a second offer rejected
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi (left) has banished Caicedo (right) from training amid the transfer saga as they prepare for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Liverpool
Caicedo is concerned that he may not get the chance to join Arsenal or Chelsea in the summer, with the clubs set to go head-to-head for West Ham captain Declan Rice at the end of the season.
However, any Rice pursuit won’t be affected by Caicedo, with the England international still in the plans of the clubs should they buy the Brighton star.
One reason why Arsenal would look to sign Caicedo is the injury suffered to Thomas Partey against Man City.
The midfielder is set to undergo an MRI but the hope is that his injury is not too serious.
Caicedo, in his message on social media on Friday, wrote that a record transfer fee ‘would allow Brighton to reinvest and help the club continue to be successful.’
After missing Saturday morning’s training session, the 21-year-old will play no part in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Liverpool at the Amex Stadium.
The 21-year-old expressed his desire to leave Brighton in a social media post on Friday evening
The player isn’t believed to be in the right frame of mind to play in the cup tie and a mutual decision was made that he shouldn’t be involved this weekend.
Caicedo changed agents recently and they are trying to push through the move.
Brighton have maintained Caicedo isn’t for sale ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline and have rejected a £60m bid from Arsenal that may yet be increased.
Caicedo said on Instagram on Friday evening: ‘I am grateful to Mr. Bloom and Brighton for giving me the chance to come to the Premier League and I feel I have always done my best for them. I always play football with a smile and with heart.
‘I am the youngest of 10…