Arsenal are showing off their intent with Moises Caicedo bid

“We need some more cover in midfield ideally if we can,” Mikel Arteta admitted with less than a week of the January transfer window remaining.

The Gunners seemed destined to bolster their personnel in the middle of the park last summer, but a seemingly inevitable move for Leicester’s Youri Tielemans never came to fruition. Douglas Luiz was then pursued on deadline day, but Aston Villa rebuffed each of Arsenal’s approaches.

Thus, some questioned whether the club had left Arteta short in midfield for the 2022/23 campaign, especially after Mohamed Elneny picked up a long-term injury in the 2-1 victory over Fulham at the end of August.

Fortunately, Granit Xhaka’s stellar form before the World Cup in a more advanced function combined with Thomas Partey’s availability means the Gunners midfield hasn’t missed a beat this term. However, it’s still a thin group and with the club set to compete on multiple fronts to conclude the campaign, midfield reinforcements wouldn’t go amiss before the end of the window.

And thus, within 24 hours of Arteta’s presser ahead of the FA Cup clash with Man City on Friday night, reports emerged of the club’s opening bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian international has garnered interest from Chelsea this winter, with the Seagulls already rejecting a £55m proposal from the Blues, and Arsenal opted to enter the race with a £60m bid – one that was quickly rebuffed by Brighton, who are keen to hang on to the 21-year-old this month.

Despite Brighton’s rejection, the bid depicts Arsenal’s strong intent. Edu does not want to leave Arteta short in the club’s title bid, as was the case last January in the top-four race.

Their pursuit of Mykhaylo Mudryk highlighted the funds available to the Gunners this month, and the club are keen to utilise their strong position to pry away a player of Caicedo’s calibre from a Premier League rival. Elneny’s injury and Emile Smith Rowe’s slow reintroduction have hastened the need for another addition this month, and Caicedo would be an excellent signing – even if some are sceptical to pay such a lofty sum for the Brighton man.

The 21-year-old has slotted in seamlessly on the south coast, with the rigours of the Premier League failing to shackle the blossoming Ecuadorian. He’s a proficient ball-winner who plays well beyond his years, and he’s believed to be keen on taking the next step in his career.

What his potential arrival means for the reported interest in Declan Rice is unclear. We’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.

Arsenal have made it obvious that they’re desperate to give Arteta the best possible chance of winning the Premier League this season, but prising the excellent Caicedo away from the Amex before the January deadline will be far from simple.