Moises Caicedo prepared to submit transfer request to secure Arsenal move

The Ecuadorian is desperate to move to London this month (Picture: Getty)

Moises Caicedo is desperate to force through a January move after Arsenal had a £60million bid rejected by Brighton and could hand in a transfer request, according to reports.

The 21-year-old has emerged as the top target to reinforce the midfields of two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, with Chelsea having had a £55m approach rejected prior to Arsenal’s bid.

However, Brighton are adamant the Ecuador international is not for sale this month and it would take an astronomical offer to change their mind.

According to the Daily Mail, Caicedo is disappointed to see Arsenal’s latest offer be rejected out of hand and is prepared to submit a transfer request to secure a dream move to London.

The young midfielder is eager to test himself at a bigger club – with both the Gunners and Chelsea competing in Europe – and is ready to try and force Brighton’s hand.

It is even suggested in the report that he could miss his side’s clash against Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday due to not being ‘in the right frame of mind’.

Caicedo scored and impressed at the World Cup in Qatar (Picture: Getty)

Despite Caicedo’s push to leave, Brighton will continue to resist the advances of Arsenal and Chelsea and it will take an offer of around £80m to bring them to the negotiating table.

The Seagulls lost Yves Bissouma last summer for a reduced fee as his contract only had a year left, while they also sold Leandro Trossard to Arsenal earlier this month and do not want to lose anymore players.

Chelsea had appeared to cool their interest in Caicedo after their opening offer was rejected – which prompted links with Everton’s Amadou Onana – but they could now return with an improved offer.

More: Arsenal FC

Caicedo had recently insisted he was not interested in a move away from the Amex this month and was only focused on playing for Brighton, but that stance appears to have changed.

Speaking earlier this week, he said: ‘I am focused on Brighton. I am here, I’m playing every day. Things from outside don’t trouble me, nor does it take that focus away, because I’m focused only on here.

‘I handle [the speculation] well. You hear rumours here and there, but I only try to be focused on the club where I am now, the club that opened the doors for me to be playing every week.’

MORE : Brighton respond to Arsenal’s £60million bid for top Chelsea target Moises Caicedo

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