Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Arsenal target ‘keen to quit’ Prem rivals as Gunners return following explosive January saga

Moises Caicedo, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Brighton v Chelsea, April 2023

Arsenal have remained interested in Moises Caicedo since January, and the midfielder is reportedly ‘keen to quit’ Brighton despite penning a new deal recently.

The Gunners had quite an eventful January window. They attempted to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk, before Chelsea swooped, hijacking the deal and snaring the forward for themselves.

Mikel Arteta’s side opted for Leandro Trossard as an alternative. He’s had a good impact for Arsenal so far, scoring once and providing eight assists in 16 league games.

It was a feature of the club’s January window that they’d miss out on a top signing and opt for another player instead. That was the case in their pursuit of Caicedo – an explosive saga over the winter.

The Ecuadorian sent a plea to Brighton to let him go amid interest from Arsenal. He posted a message on Instagram which detailed how “proud” he was to “be able to” bring in a record fee for the Seagulls.

His transfer request didn’t work and after two bids from the Gunners – the highest carrying a value of £70million – Caicedo was forced to remain with his current side.

That led Arsenal to complete the signing of Jorginho on deadline day.

Since then, Caicedo has penned a new deal with Brighton, keeping him at the club until 2027, with an option to extend the stay for another year beyond that.

Caicedo ‘keen to quit’ Brighton

That extension has done little to stem Arsenal’s interest. Indeed, Football Insider reports the Gunners are ‘still monitoring’ the star as they ‘eye a summer swoop’.

Brighton are apparently ‘expecting bids’ for Caicedo despite his new contract.

And while the new deal seems to have had little bearing on the mindset of interested sides, nor has it on Caicedo himself. Indeed, Football Insider suggests he is ‘keen to quit’ the club despite recently penning a new deal.

It would be unsurprising if he was ready to jump ship, following his plea to leave in January.

While he’d gain a reputation for being disloyal if he was to leave so soon, he’s unlikely to care, given he may well move onto a big club.

Arsenal in box seat for top talent

Arsenal are likely heading the queue for Caicedo. He wanted to leave for the Gunners in January, and he likes the club because of their ‘young, talented squad’.

Whether or not they win the league this season, the core of the squad will remain the same. They should be able to fight at the top of the table again next term.

Adding Caicedo into the mix could give them the push above other sides. While only 21 years of age, he’s developing into one of the world’s best holding midfielders.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens if the Gunners are to land him. They’ll have Chelsea to contend with, as per the report, though surely the Blues aren’t in as strong a position due to their current failings.

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