Following their impressive 2022/23 campaign, Arteta made it clear that he wanted to continue strengthening his squad in order to close the gap on Manchester City. The Spaniard prioritised a rebuild in midfield – allowing Granit Xhaka to leave and putting several players in the shop window.
Thomas Partey is among those who could depart, with Saudi clubs circling in hope of landing the Ghana international. Thus, Arsenal could add another top-quality player to their midfield ranks – with Caicedo still admired.
Earlier this summer, Arteta intended on signing both the Brighton star and Declan Rice but the finances involved became a deterrent and they prioritised the latter, who recently arrived for £105million. Though there is every chance that the Gunners could sign the ‘dream duo’ because the Daily Mail report that Chelsea are ‘not close’ to matching the Seagulls’ £100m asking price for Caicedo.
The Blues have been locked in negotiations with Brighton for weeks, though Mauricio Pochettino’s side appear reluctant to welcome another £100m signing given that they forked out a similar fee for Enzo Fernandez in January. The Seagulls are adamant that they will not accept a lesser figure for their No 25 and are now including Caicedo in their pre-season plans – with their squad set to leave for the US on Monday.
Similarly, Arsenal are not expected to allow Partey to leave cheaply, with some reports speculating that they will demand at least £30m for the services of the ex-Atletico Madrid star. A figure in that region would go a long way to securing Caicedo if the Gunners do return to the race – though they may need to repair their fractured relationship with Brighton if they are to strike a deal.We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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