Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo decided to go public to express his desire to leave the club after they rejected bids for him from multiple clubs. While it was Chelsea’s £55m offer first to be rebuffed, Caicedo’s statement apparently comes after Arsenal’s latest £60mbid too was rejected by the Seagulls. It seems the Ecuador international has now set his heart over a move to a ‘big club’, declaring it in his statement.
Caicedo has been at Brighton since 2021, when the club paid a mere €5m to Independiente in the winter market for the midfielder’s acquisition. He spent the next six months with Brighton, before joining Belgian side Beerschot on loan in the summer of 2021. However, Brighton recalled him in January 2022 mid-way through the season. Since then, Caicedo has established his place in the Brighton XI under managers Graham Potter and now Roberto De Zerbi.
Moises Caicedo wants to ‘take up magnificent opportunity’
Moises Caicedo was on the radars of the ‘big clubs’ of the Premier League almost all of whom ironically needed midfield reinforcements. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all had registered their interest in signing the 21-year-old. Brighton too have accepted that they it won’t be possible to keep the player until anywhere near his contract which expires in 2025.
The Seagulls had anticipated offers from him, but not in the winter market. But London duo Chelsea and Arsenal made move as a £55m bid arrived from the blue part, whereas an improved £60m came in from the red part. While Chelsea’s was first to be tabled on Brighton’s table, the club rejected it out of hand. Caicedo too was understood to be not so keen on joining the Blues who already have options stacked in their midfield.
Arsenal have reportedly enticed him much more, as their rejected £60m has apparently prompted Moises Caicedo to right away post a public statement urging Brighton to accept the Gunners’ offer. The Ecuador international has thanked the supporters and asked for their understanding, as he further requests the club to sell him which could be their record transfer if sold for £60m. The statement from the midfielder reads:
“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 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador.
“I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful.
Meanwhile, Arsenal believe Caicedo’s statement could be a big push in their pursuit to sign him before the deadline day. The Gunners maintain a healthy relationship with the Seagulls, having signed two of their players in Ben White and Leandro Trossard. While the defender arrived in the summer of 2021 for a massive £50m fee, Trossard was signed last week for a package of £27m of which £21m is fixed fee.