Arsenal signing Moises Caicedo would be bad news for three Gunners players
Arsenal hopes to acquire Brighton star Moises Caicedo before the January transfer window closes.
However, the arrival of the Ecuadorian international would be bad news for three Arsenal players.
Mikel Arteta is desperate to acquire a midfielder by Tuesday’s cut off date. Premier League leaders now view Caicedo as a top target.
Friday, Arsenal’s £60 million offer for the 21-year-old was rejected. The club is anticipated to return with a better offer, and the player is eager to move to north London.
Caicedo has appeared in fewer than 30 Premier League matches, but has attracted the attention of England’s top clubs. In the recent past, Chelsea and Liverpool were both rumored to be interested in signing him.
A move to Stamford Bridge is not inconceivable. Chelsea is still in the market for a midfielder despite having beaten Arsenal to the signings of Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk this month.
But if Caicedo were to join Arsenal, it would be detrimental to three current Gunners players. Mohamed Elneny’s contract expires at the end of the current season.
The fitness of Elneny, who suffered a knee injury earlier this month, is a major factor in Arsenal’s pursuit of Caicedo. There is concern that he may miss the majority of the remainder of the campaign.
Consequently, his future at the Emirates appears bleak. Arsenal has the option to extend Elneny’s contract for an additional year.
However, he may have suffered a second serious injury this season, after missing a few months earlier with a hamstring injury. Caicedo is likely to replace Declan Rice in the squad, while Caicedo and Declan Rice are both top summer targets.
Even if Rice does not sign, it is evident that Arteta intends to recruit additional middle-of-the-park players at the end of the season. Albert Sambi Lokonga’s days may also be numbered if Caicedo joins the team. His playing time would be restricted further, and he has already garnered interest this month.
Lokonga may remain in Arteta’s possession until the summer, but that could be the end for the Belgian. Charlie Patino’s path to Arsenal could be obstructed if Caicedo and Rice join the club.
Patino is not a defensive midfielder, but he has played deeper at times this season while on loan at Blackpool. The 19-year-old is a highly regarded prospect who has excelled in the Championship.
However, it may be difficult for him to join Arteta’s team in the near future. Next season, he could have Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Caicedo, and Rice all ahead of him.
Arsenal signing Moises Caicedo would be bad news for three Gunners players
