Brighton were not impressed with Arsenal’s conduct surrounding their bid for reported Liverpool target Moises Caciedo.
The Gunners pushed hard to sign the 21-year-old in the dying days of the window to no avail. And as per The Athletic, the nature of Arsenal’s approach has ‘soured respect’ towards the London club from Brighton.
It’s claimed that the Premier League leaders were told in no uncertain terms to ‘back off’ once their £60m bid for Caicedo was rejected. However, Arsenal reportedly failed to heed this advice.
As a result, their position is said to have now been ‘weakened’ in any further negotiations with Brighton. With Liverpool perhaps sensibly staying out of this one, maybe an opportunity has now arisen.
Liverpool in Brighton’s good books
Ultimately, this kind of thing may not end up meaning all that much. It’s been reported already that Arsenal very much plan on returning for Caceido once the summer window is open.
With plenty of time then to hash out a deal, they have the opportunity to win Brighton over once more.
Also, it’s likely that with other clubs interested, Brighton will simply sell to the highest bidder. Would they, for example, sell Caicedo to Liverpool if they were bidding £20m less, just because Arsenal annoyed them six months before? That seems unlikely.
However, it should be said that if the bids are similar Liverpool could now hold a little advantage.
The third club so often reported as being in for Caicedo is, as ever, Chelsea. Although the two have done big business in the past for Marc Cucurella, Chelsea also pinched a huge clump of Brighton’s backroom staff this season. Including head coach Graham Potter.
It isn’t hard how there could be some resentment towards the West London club because of that.
Liverpool on the other hand should be in Brighton’s good books right now. Beaten handsomely by them twice in the space of a matter of weeks, the Reds were as friendly as possible over the two recent games. If you don’t laugh you’ll cry.
In contrast to Arsenal’s bold move to sign Caicedo, Liverpool are also said to be ‘waiting for a signal’ to proceed with an offer. Hopefully that little show of respect can bump them to the front of the queue for the ‘magnificent‘ Ecuadorian.