Brighton are fearing Moises Caicedo’s departure from the club this summer, according to his team-mate Pervis Estupinan.
Caicedo is poised to leave the Seagulls after Roberto De Zerbi made it clear the club would not stand in his way. Brighton have already sold Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool this summer and Caicedo looks set to follow him, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all interested in acquiring his services.
The 21-year-old midfielder came close to leaving in January after going public with his desire to leave. Arsenal and Chelsea were both in the picture earlier this year and United are also keeping across his situation now the summer transfer window has opened.
Estupinan knows a departure is the most likely outcome and has admitted Brighton will miss his qualities next season. “I think that having a player of Moi’s category, that many teams would like him, we all fear that he will leave us,” he told the Ecuador TV channel, via ESPN Argentina.
“As I have always said to him, if he stays I will be very happy to play by his side, to continue enjoying his football. [But if he leaves] I would wish him all the best wherever he is because he is a good boy, a good professional, a good worker, a machine, a beast as a player.
“If he leaves, then we will face him. I only ask him not to put his body into me because he is very strong!”
De Zerbi has confirmed Brighton won’t stand in Caicedo’s way. "For sure we will lose some players, maybe Caicedo and Mac Allister," he told Sky Sports in May.
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"We have to be ready to bring in more good players and for the others; [Kaoru] Mitoma, Estupinan, I think for them the best solution is to stay with us. I don’t know if they are ready to play in the big teams. You have to arrive ready in the head. We can offer them the possibility to progress and to improve."
Arsenal are currently focused on signing Declan Rice from West Ham, with a £100million move mooted. But, with Granit Xhaka leaving, the Gunners are in the market for two midfielders and Caicedo made it clear in January he would be open to joining Mikel Arteta’s side.
However, Chelsea might be the most likely destination for the Ecuador international this summer due to Levi Colwill’s situation. Brighton are ready to pay £40m to sign Colwill following an impressive campaign on loan on the south coast and those negotiations could pave the way for Caicedo to move to London in the opposite direction.
United, meanwhile, have asked to be kept informed of Caicedo’s intentions, but their interest is less developed than their rivals at this stage.
