A highly-rated midfielder who has been the subject of interest from Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly fears he may be stuck at his current club ahead of next season.
Arsenal and Chelsea have both been working on the evolution of their respective midfields in recent months. Their paths even crossed in that regard in the January transfer window, when the Blues sold Jorginho to the Gunners to avoid losing him for free at the end of the season.
But both London rivals have been looking at additional targets ahead of the summer window. Arsenal especially need to evolve their midfield with some more youthful energy.
Chelsea, meanwhile, replaced Jorginho with Enzo Fernandez in a move that broke the British transfer record. But if they lose N’Golo Kante at the end of the season, they may need another reinforcement.
With that in mind, links could be expected to continue with a player whom both clubs looked at in January. Indeed, last month, Arsenal and Chelsea both made approaches for Brighton midfielder, Moises Caicedo.
Arsenal saw some offers rejected by Brighton late in the transfer window, despite Caicedo issuing a statement asking his employers to let him leave.
Chelsea also failed with their bidding for Caicedo, who previously worked with Graham Potter at the Amex Stadium.
At the age of 21, there is plenty of time ahead for Caicedo to earn a move to one of the Premier League’s bigger clubs. However, according to Football Insider, he is already “worried” the ship might have sailed.
The report claims Arsenal in particular might have other priorities in the summer. By then, more established options might be more readily available than they were in the winter.
Moises Caicedo no longer top of the list
For example, West Ham captain Declan Rice is a valuable player who appeals to both Arsenal and Chelsea. The report also anticipates that Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham could be higher up clubs’ wishlists.
Therefore, Caicedo “could drop down the agenda” for his suitors and end up having to stay at Brighton. He is under contract at the Amex Stadium until 2025.
There is confirmation in the report, though, that he is still on Chelsea’s “radar” in view of the summer. Hence, all hope may not be lost from the Ecuador international’s perspective.
Yet Football Insider‘s claim matches up with TEAMtalk’s own information from earlier this month that “teams that prioritised Caicedo in January might not do the same thing in the summer,” per our insider, Ben Jacobs.
According to our source, though, Caicedo could remain of interest to Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as another suitor in the shape of Liverpool.
He will just have to keep performing well for Brighton to remind the elite clubs of what he can do. Caicedo has played 23 times this season, and 33 across his whole spell with the Seagulls.
