Brighton and Hove Albion have reportedly set a transfer fee of £90M if Chelsea and Arsenal are to land Ecuadorian international Moises Caicedo.
In an effort to bolster their midfield options, both Arsenal and Chelsea have submitted bids for Ecuadorian international Moises Caicedo, according to sources close to the situation. The Gunners lodged a £60 million offer to Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday, but it is understood that the Seagulls promptly rejected the approach. Chelsea also had a £55 million bid rejected earlier this week.
The two London clubs have been searching for midfield reinforcements during the January transfer window. Chelsea initially had their sights set on Enzo Fernandes, but have reportedly shifted their focus to Caicedo, with Benfica unwilling to negotiate over the £106 million release clause for the World Cup star.
However, it appears that both Arsenal and Chelsea’s valuations for the midfielder fall well below what Brighton hope to generate from a potential sale. According to The Independent , the clubs will need to make a substantial offer in the region of £90 million to have a chance of securing the services of Caicedo.
The situation has taken a turn as it’s reported that Caicedo has missed training with Brighton on Saturday morning, as he wants to leave immediately. Furthermore, the player will not return to the club until after the transfer window closes, but Brighton’s stance on a sale remains unchanged.
With the transfer deadline fast approaching on Tuesday, it remains to be seen whether the clubs will come to an agreement, but it’s clear that both Arsenal and Chelsea are in need of midfield reinforcements, and it will take a significant sum for Caicedo to be the solution to their problems.