Premier League leaders, Arsenal, have had their fresh £70 million bid for midfielder Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton.
Brighton had said their position will not change, stressing that the midfielder is not for sale in January, with the window set to shut on Tuesday at 11 p.m.
Had the Seagulls accepted Arsenal’s latest offer for the 21-year-old it would have been a club-record transfer, surpassing the £60m sale of Marc Cucurella to Chelsea in the summer.
The Gunners also had their initial £60m offer for Caicedo rejected, which prompted the Colombia international to plead with Brighton to let him leave and join the Premier League leaders in a statement on social media.
Caicedo, who said to Brighton’s official website that he was focused solely on his current club just last week, was told to stay away from training with the Seagulls until after Tuesday’s transfer deadline following his Instagram post.
Leandro Trossard has already swapped Brighton for Arsenal in the current window in a deal worth £27m.
READ ALSO: Arsenal sign Leandro Trossard from Brighton
Brighton manager, Roberto De Zerbi, wants Caicedo to stay at Brighton until the end of the season but says the club are “ready to go forward without him”.
“Caicedo is a very good guy and I can understand him.
“When you are 21 and you receive the request of a big team, they are playing in European competition, I can understand,” De Zerbi said after Sunday’s last-gasp FA Cup fourth-round win over Liverpool.
Asked if he was surprised by Caicedo’s social media post, De Zerbi added: “Yes, yes I was. I’m not sure if it was him if you know what I mean.”
Pressed on if he thought Caicedo had been influenced by others, De Zerbi said: “Yes, I think so.”
Caicedo’s post on Instagram read: “I am grateful to Mr Bloom and Brighton for giving me the chance to come to the Premier League and I feel I have always done my best for them. I always play football with a smile and with heart.
“I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador.
“I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful.
“The fans have taken me into their hearts and they will always be in my heart so I hope they can understand why I want to take up this magnificent opportunity.”
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