Brighton have rejected a £60m bid from Arsenal for midfielder Moises Caicedo.
The Premier League leaders are keen to strengthen their squad after Mohamed Elneny picked up an injury in training that could mean a lengthy lay-off.
With a small squad and manager Mikel Arteta does not want to jeopardize his team's title challenge through a lack of numbers.
The Seagulls have already turned down a £55m bid by Chelsea for 21-year-old Caicedo, showing that they are not willing to let go of the Ecuador international easily.
Brighton have already sold key players like Marc Cucurella to Chelsea in a deal worth £60m, Yves Bissouma to Tottenham for £25m plus add-ons and Neal Maupay to Everton for £15m in the summer.
This is not the first time that Brighton have rejected a big money offer for one of their players.
Earlier this month, Leandro Trossard left them to join Arsenal for an initial £21m, but Brighton do not have a financial reason to sell Caicedo.
Given they are currently sixth in the table, with the potential to move to fifth if they win their two games in hand on Tottenham, they have no desire to sell the Ecuador international either.
Caicedo has made 26 appearances in the Premier League, scoring twice and is under contract until 2025.
This shows that he is a key player for Brighton and they see him as a vital part of their team.
The Ecuador international has been a regular starter for the Seagulls, showcasing his ability to adapt to the Premier League quickly.
The 21-year-old has already shown that he has the potential to become a top player in the future and Brighton are not willing to let him go easily.
It's clear that Arsenal will have to come up with a higher offer if they want to secure the services of Moises Caicedo.
With the transfer window set to close on Monday, time is running out for the Gunners to make their move.
Brighton's rejection of the £60m bid from Arsenal shows that they are not a selling club and they are determined to hold on to their best players.
The Seagulls are in a strong position, both financially and in the league, and they have no reason to sell their key players.
In conclusion, it appears that Arsenal's pursuit of Moises Caicedo may have hit a dead end.
The Premier League leaders will have to look elsewhere to strengthen their squad, and Brighton will continue to hold on to one of their best young talents.
With the transfer window set to close on Monday, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Moises Caicedo and Brighton.
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal have submitted £60m bid to sign Moises Caicedo as new midfielder 🚨⚪️🔴 #AFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2023
Chelsea had £55m verbal proposal rejected this January as Brighton hope to keep the player — but Arsenal are now pushing.
Negotiations enter into key stages for Caicedo’s future. pic.twitter.com/WZp3RKRdbx
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