Transfer Centre

Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo's move to Arsenal 'now completely off'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 31 January 2023

Caicedo move to Arsenal 'now completely off'

Arsenal will reportedly not return with an improved bid for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo before Tuesday's deadline.

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo will reportedly not be signing for Arsenal before Tuesday's deadline.

There has been strong interest in the Ecuador international throughout the January transfer window, a result of his performances putting the Seagulls into a position to challenge for European qualification.

Once that admiration became concrete, Caicedo took the decision to publicly reveal his desire to depart the Amex Stadium for a bigger club.

That is believed to have stemmed from Arsenal making contact with Brighton regarding a deal, one which would need to be in excess of £60m.

However, the South Coast outfit have retained their stance that the 21-year-old is not for sale, even when the Gunners upped their offer.

As a result, Arsenal are instead signing Chelsea midfielder Jorginho for a cut-price fee, one which would allegedly reach £12m if they win the Premier League.

Jorginho celebrates scoring for Chelsea on August 6, 2022 © Reuters

Despite that development, it has been claimed that the top-flight leaders were still considering whether to make yet another improved offer for Caicedo in the final hours of the window.

Nevertheless, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, that will definitely not be the case.

Romano says that negotiations over a potential deal are now "completely off", Arsenal accepting that they will not be able to tempt their Brighton counterparts into selling their most prized asset.

Caicedo was told last week to stay away from the club's training ground until it became clear whether he would stay at Brighton or take up a new challenge elsewhere.

Instead, Roberto De Zerbi is expected to reintegrate Caicedo back into his first-team squad ahead of the Premier League clash with Bournemouth on February 4.

That is providing that Chelsea do not make a late move of their own in the event of failing to tempt Benfica to sell Enzo Fernandez.