Relationship between Arsenal and Brighton harmed by less likely summer Moises Caicedo transfer

The club’s relationship with Arsenal has’soured’ as a result of their failure to negotiate with Brighton over their January pursuit of Moises Caicedo, and it’s possible that this will harm their chances of acquiring the midfielder in the summer.

In the dying days of the January transfer window, the Seagulls turned down two offers from the Gunners. On the day of the transfer deadline, the team gave up and instead paid £12 million to acquire Jorginho from Chelsea.

Caicedo is anticipated to be returned to Arsenal in the summer, although Brighton is reportedly not pleased with their recent behavior.

Last Friday, Brighton rejected a first offer of £60 million, making it plain that this was not a negotiating ploy but an absolute refusal to conduct business.

According to The Athletic, Brighton told the club to “back off” and alerted Arsenal on Saturday morning that there was no possibility of a deal being reached.

The Premier League leaders made a second offer of £65 million plus £5 million in add-ons, but it was rejected and was viewed as “irrelevant” at the Amex Stadium.

Ben White, who moved to north London in a £50 million deal in 2021, and Leandro Trossard, who did the same in a £27 million deal this month, were both negotiated amicably between Brighton and Arsenal in the past.

But according to the reports, their efforts to recruit Caicedo have “soured” Brighton’s regard for Arsenal and undermined their position in the event that they ever again make a bid to sign one of the team’s key players.

The article states that while the Ecuadorian international is likely to want a significant move in the summer, Arsenal is now “less likely” to be his new club because they are no longer among the “clubs Brighton feel comfortable with talking with regularly.”

After Arsenal’s initial offer was turned down, Caicedo, who changed agents in January, issued a statement appealing for the right to leave the team.

As a result, the player was told to stay away from training until after the transfer window had closed, missing Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Liverpool as a result.

The player was consequently instructed to refrain from practicing until after the transfer window had closed, which caused him to miss Sunday’s FA Cup match against Liverpool.

He is expected to return to training this week with Brighton firmly in the race for European qualification this season.