Chelsea and Man Utd handed transfer boost as Arsenal end interest in long-time target Moises Caicedo

Brighton accept Moises Caicedo will leave the club this summer (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have ended their interest in Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo in a boost to Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Gunners were expected to revive their interest in Caicedo this summer after tabling multiple unsuccessful bids for the Ecuador international in January.

Mikel Arteta is a known admirer of Caicedo, who enjoyed a breakout season on the south coast, helping Brighton finish sixth and qualify for Europe for the first time.

But Arsenal are prioritising a deal for West Ham captain Declan Rice and have therefore pulled out of the running to sign Caicedo, according to The Times.

The Gunners know Rice will not come cheaply – their opening bid for the midfielder was quickly rejected by West Ham – so another big-money move for Caicedo always looked unlikely.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi admitted at the end of the season that Caicedo would likely leave this summer, with the Seagulls hoping to attract an offer in the region of £80m.

Arsenal’s decision to withdraw from the race is a major boost to Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both keen to secure Caicedo’s signature.

Arsenal are focusing on a summer deal for Declan Rice (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea spent more than £100m on Enzo Fernandez in January but want to bring in another midfielder ahead of the likely departures of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.

United boss Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, has made signing a new midfielder one of his priorities this summer, along with a star striker.

Both Chelsea and Manchester United are in the running to sign Rice but could make swift moves for Caicedo if Arsenal complete a deal for the West Ham captain.

Arsenal finished second behind Manchester City last season and Andy Cole expects Arteta’s side to mount another title challenge next term if they sign Rice or Caicedo.

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‘If Arsenal brought in one of them then that would definitely improve them enough to challenge next season,’ Old Trafford hero Cole told Punters.Pub.

‘I’m not sure what the price tag is on both of them. But I think Moises Caicedo is a fantastic player, I really do.

‘He bosses games for Brighton, who played some real good stuff this season. If he’s £80m, I’m not quite sure why Declan Rice should be £100m.

‘In the end it comes down to who Mikel Arteta thinks is going to make Arsenal better, whether or not he thinks that they could bring Arsenal closer to winning the Premier League. We’ll have to wait and see.’

MORE : Arsenal still in contention to sign Ilkay Gundogan as Dortmund withdraw interest

MORE : Second club to bid for Declan Rice as Man Utd and Chelsea rival Arsenal

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