Arsenal 'strongly wanted' Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo in January and could revive their interest in the Ecuadorian this summer, journalist Rudy Galetti has informed GIVEMESPORT.
The 21-year-old had much speculation over his future in January, however, will now stay at the AMEX Stadium until at least the end of the season.
Arsenal Transfer News - Moises Caicedo
Last month, The Daily Mail reported that Arsenal saw a bid of £60 million with £10 million in add-ons rejected for the services of Caicedo, with Brighton said to want £80 million for his signature.
The 21-year-old had stayed away from training with his teammates to try and force through a move to either Arsenal or Chelsea before the January deadline.
Of course, the enforcer will now remain at his current employers for the remainder of this term, much to the delight of Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi, who said: “I am happy that Moises Caicedo has stayed with us. I want to speak to our fans to support him”, as per Football London.
Since then, Caicedo has reappeared on the pitch for Brighton, coming off the bench to a heroes' welcome in a crucial 1-0 victory over Bournemouth to strengthen his sides' chances of securing continental qualification in 2022/23.
What has Rudy Galetti said about Moises Caicedo?
Now, Galetti has said that Arsenal 'strongly wanted' Caicedo in the summer and could return this summer with interest, depending on certain conditions.
Galetti informed GMS: "It's an option; Arsenal strongly wanted Caicedo in the winter transfer session, but as we know, Brighton rejected two offers declaring him not for sale. In the summer, they could try again for Moises Caicedo, but Arteta wants to make a final decision only after evaluating the performance of Sambi Lokonga, who is now on loan at Crystal Palace.
"So it's an option, but at the moment, nothing has been decided yet for Moises Caicedo in the summer".
What are Moises Caicedo's stats this season?
Caicedo has been a mainstay for high-flying Brighton this season, making 22 appearances across all competitions, claiming one goal and one assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.
Furthermore, Caicedo has won 109 duels in the Premier League this campaign, showing his aggression to regain possession and kickstart passages of offensive play.
In the January window, Arsenal did secure a defensive midfielder in the form of Jorginho, who joined on deadline day from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £12 million.
Nevertheless, the Italy international is 31 years old and is unlikely to be a long-term solution in the holding role, potentially paving the way for Caicedo to assume that position for the coming years if the Gunners' interest is to be revived in his services.