Moises Caicedo became a target for Arsenal during the January window, but it was soon apparent that a deal was not going to materialise. After the first setback, the Gunners tried again with a new offer, but it was quickly declined. After two unsuccessful bids, the third bid was estimated to be around £70 million, with £5 million in potential bonuses, making it a potential club-record transfer for Arsenal.

There was hope that the relationship built between Arsenal and Brighton through previous transfers of Ben White and Leandro Trossard could help the Premier League leaders in acquiring Moises Caicedo. However, the Seagulls made it clear from the start that he was not available for transfer.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed Brighton’s stance on the 21-year-old’s availability during the transfer window. On BBC 5 Live, the journalist stated the Seagulls had made it clear that the midfielder was not for sale and there was no room for further discussions. The transfer expert also highlighted that the Ecuadorian international was under contract until 2025 with an option to extend it for an additional 12 months.

Understand Moisés Caicedo deal with Arsenal is now completely off. No further talks will follow. #DeadlineDay

Brighton never changed their stance: no intention to accept £60m or £70m proposals. Plan has always been to keep Caicedo.

Arsenal will announce Jorginho soon. pic.twitter.com/uagUr2wypl

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2023

This season, Caicedo has already made 19 appearances in the Premier League, contributing one goal and one assist. His impressive play has not only caught the attention of Arsenal but also of other top clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool.

What Moises Caicedo Would Have Brought To Arsenal?

Moises Caicedo is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League. He signed with the club in January 2021 and has since established himself as a promising young talent and a key starter for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants a player who can provide quality competition to Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey. Caicedo is known for his physicality, ball control, passing accuracy, work rate and leadership qualities. He has quickly become a valuable player for the Seagulls, offering a strong presence in midfield and helping to win the ball back for his team. He is capable of controlling the ball well with both feet and manoeuvring past opponents with his dribbling skills.

In his first season with Brighton, the 21-year-old made several appearances as a substitute and showed flashes of his potential. He has since continued to develop and improve, becoming a regular starter for the club and earning recognition for his performances. He has a tenacious work rate and covers a lot of ground during the match, making him an effective defensive midfielder.

Moisés Caicedo | Defensive Skills, Goals & Assists |https://t.co/AL6MPWBIpU pic.twitter.com/TOEUbM2Brb

— FSkS (@FSkShow) January 30, 2023

Despite his young age, the Ecuadorian is already a crucial player for Brighton and has a bright future ahead of him. With his strong all-around game and determination to succeed, he is expected to be a mainstay in the team for years to come.

Although the Seagulls made their stance clear on the availability of Moises Caicedo, Arsenal persisted in their pursuit of the player until the closing hours of the January transfer window. This approach not only disregarded Brighton’s warning but also resulted in a wasted opportunity to look for alternative targets.

Arsenal eventually acquired Jorginho on deadline day. Although a quality midfielder, the transfer was inconsistent with the club’s recent recruitment strategy. The Gunners did manage to get the Italian for a paltry £12 million –  a more reasonable cost than previous similar profiles.

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Caicedo was not the first transfer target that the North London side missed out on during the window. The club’s close but ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Mykhaylo Mudryk, who was snapped up by Chelsea, had raised concerns earlier. These grievances were temporarily alleviated by the quick acquisition of Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior.

However, the failed pursuit for the 21-year-old Ecuadorian has not only damaged the club’s relationship with a source of top talent, but has also resulted in missing out on key transfer targets. Sporting Director Edu will have another opportunity to demonstrate his transfer abilities in the summer, potentially with the added motivation of a Premier League title win.

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