Brighton set massive price tag for Arsenal and Chelsea to sign Moises Caicedo this month

Despite being adamant that Moises Caicedo is not for sale, Brighton could cash in this month if Arsenal or meet their enormous asking price.

The Ecuador international has emerged as the top midfield target for the two Premier League giants, with Chelsea having a £55million offer rejected earlier this month before the Gunners saw a £60m bid of their own rebuffed on Friday.

A lot has unfolded since then, with Caicedo posting a statement on social media pleading to be allowed to leave and Brighton subsequently banished him from training.

Although Arsenal and Chelsea are preparing improved offers, Brighton are maintaining their stance that the 21-year-old is not for sale and will welcome him back into the fold after Tuesday’s transfer deadline has passed.

However, are reporting that there is a figure Brighton would begrudgingly accept if it was reached, with the Seagulls prepared to cash in if an offer of £90m is made.

That would make Caicedo – who has only made 26 Premier League appearances – one of the most expensive signings in the competition’s history.

Brighton are said to be deeply unimpressed with the way clubs have pursued Caicedo, particularly so late in the window, and feel he has been poorly advised by new representatives.

Ideally they want to keep the Ecuadorian until at least the end of the season and feel he is integral to their push to qualify for European football.

But there would come a point at which potential bids would become impossible to turn down, and if Arsenal or Chelsea want to land Caicedo they will need to stump up £90m to get him.

It remains to be seen if either club value the young midfielder that highly, with Brighton’s asking price an astonishing 50 per cent higher than Arsenal’s first offer of £60m.

The Gunners had been weighing up putting together a second offer worth around £70m, but it has been made clear by Brighton that a bid in that region would also get rejected.

Arsenal could now explore other options – they were previously linked with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, who has a £53m release clause – and their next move could be dictated by the injury Thomas Partey picked up against Manchester City, with the Ghanian requiring a scan.

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