Arsenal are in advanced talks to bring Moises Caicedo to The Emirates in the January transfer window.
What's the talk?
That's according to a report by Ecuadorean media outlet Tera Deportes (via Sport Witness), who claim that, despite Brighton & Hove Albion having rejected the Gunners' latest offer of £70m for the 21-year-old, Edu has managed to reach an agreement with the South Coast club regarding some elements of the deal - with talks between the two clubs said to be 'well advanced'.
The report goes on to suggest that, should Arsenal increase their bid for the midfielder, the transfer of the Ecuador international could be completed 'very soon' - although it is not stated as to whether Mikel Arteta's side would have to meet Brighton's reported £100m asking price for Caicedo in order to get a deal over the line prior to tonight's transfer deadline.
Regarding the negotiations between the two Premier League sides, Tera Deportes tweeted: "There have been talks between Brighton and Arsenal [on Monday] which are well advanced. The purchase value part is the most complicated but there are agreements and they could reach a decision very soon."
"Eye-catching"
While it is undeniable that £100m is a staggering fee to pay for a 21-year-old who has so far made just 26 appearances in the Premier League, considering the abundance of talent and potential for future development Caicedo undoubtedly possesses, the argument that the Ecuadorean's signing would be an eye-catching one for Edu to get over the line is an easy one to make.
Indeed, over his 18 top-flight fixtures so far this season, the £16m-rated talent has been in devastating form in the heart of the Brighton midfield, making an average of 2.9 tackles - the joint eighth-most in the league - 1.4 interceptions, 0.7 clearances and winning 5.8 duels - at a success rate of 57% - per game.
The £15k-per-week starlet has also impressed in an attacking capacity, having scored one goal, registered one assist and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.1 key passes, playing 2.6 long balls and completing 52.3 total passes - at a success rate of 88% - per match.
These returns have seen the player who Enrico Castro-Montes dubbed both "eye-catching" and a "crown-jewel" average a simply sensational Sofascore statistical rating of 7.10, not only ranking him as Roberto De Zerbi's fifth-best performer in the league but also as the joint 47th-best player in the top flight of English football as a whole so far this term.
Rather unsurprisingly, these performances have seen the 21-year-old earn a considerable amount of praise, with former Brighton and current Chelsea manager Graham Potter stating of the midfielder in comments cited by The Argus last summer:
"It doesn't surprise me that people are looking at him because he is playing at a fantastic level. As soon as you do research on him you realise he is a top kid, a great person, young, playing in the Premier League, has all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level."
As such, considering the sheer amount of potential for future development Caicedo undoubtedly possesses, should Edu finally manage to get a deal over the line for the Brighton wonderkid on the final day of the transfer window, it would indeed be an extremely eye-catching move by the Brazilian sporting director.