Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal did not agree to sign Moises Caicedo on transfer deadline day contrary to some reports and he will cost way more in the summer.

What’s the word?

Everyone knows that the Gunners were keen to sign a new midfielder in January and the Brighton man seemed pretty high up on their list as they saw a £70m bid rejected.

On deadline day, there were some reports that a third bid had come in and it was accepted. Indeed, as per journalist Jacque Talbot, a "huge single payment" offer had been enough to see the deal agreed.

As we all know, any possible deal fell through in the end with Jorginho joining the north London club instead. And while speaking about the matter, Romano has claimed that Brighton never changed their stance and were unwilling to sell as Caicedo's summer value will be way higher.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalist explained (0:58): “For Brighton, the strategy was clear. Keep the player now because in the summer the value will be way bigger than 60 or 70 million pounds.
"So this is why Brighton were not keen on letting the player leave in the January transfer window. Nothing was agreed on deadline day. I saw some stories, it was absolutely not true.
"I'm told that Brighton never changed their stance, the player stance, and so Caicedo will complete the season with Brighton but the expectation of those close to the club and to the player, is that at the end, Caicedo in the summer, will have his top club move. This is the feeling, this is the expectation."

Big money move?

With the Gunners signing 31-year-old Jorginho on an 18-month deal, the player's age and short contract suggest that there is still room for a new signing in the middle of the park this summer. What's more, the likes of Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, and Mo Elneny will all be 30 years or old by July and so it seems quite likely that Arsenal will be in the market for a new midfielder. With Romano saying Caicedo will cost more than £70m in the next transfer market, it would explain why Arteta was so keen to land him this winter – on top of needing someone to help with the title push. It remains to be seen just how much Brighton will ask for their man. The Gunners are also linked with West Ham ace Declan Rice but David Moyes has just claimed any deal for the player will blow the British transfer record fee "out of the water". All in all, it sounds as though an expensive summer could be coming up on the horizon for Arsenal.