Manchester United boost as rivals pull out of race for £80m star

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Arsenal have pulled out of the race for Moises Caicedo, leaving Manchester United to battle it out with Chelsea.

At this stage, what more does Moises Caicedo need to do to convince Manchester United that he is worth the – admittedly considerable – money?

The Ecuador international stood out in each of Brighton’s last four meetings with the Red Devils. He scored during last year’s traumatic 4-0 hammering during the dark days of Ralf Rangnick. He ran the show at Old Trafford on opening day, and during the FA Cup semi-final. Caicedo also kept Marcus Rashford quiet in an unfamiliar right-back role at the Amex last month.

Manchester United eye Brighton’s Moises Caicedo

Caicedo not only aced his audition, he has swaggered into the studio and rattled off his lines with the conviction and the believability of a 1970s Robert de Niro. Ten Hag surely needs no more convincing that the all-action 21-year-old – a ball-winner and a ball-player rolled into one – has the personality, poise and panache to play a leading role in his sequel season in charge of Manchester United.

According to Sky Sports, United have been asked to be kept informed of developments surrounding Caicedo’s future. A long-time target – the 13-time Premier League champions held talks before Brighton snapped up Caicedo from Independiente del Valle back in 2021 – United are also believed to be a greater ‘threat’ at this stage than Chelsea, with Newcastle United also hot on the heels of arguably the division’s most complete young midfielder (The Athletic).

Caicedo is valued in excess of £80 million by Brighton, per The Times.

A fee that could rule out a Newcastle side who, per the Daily Mail, have just £75 million to spend. Arsenal, meanwhile, have installed Declan Rice as their number one target; Caicedo missing out on a move to the Emirates in January.

The Times add that, with Rice likely to eat up much of Mikel Arteta’s budget, Arsenal have now ‘withdrawn’ from the race for Caicedo’s signature.

‘We fear he will leave’

Any move from Man United will likely be placed on the backburner for the time being too; Ten Hag keen to get Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund through the door before turning his attention to other targets.

What’s more, the Red Devils will likely have to find a buyer for Scott McTominay and/or Fred before stumping up an offer in the region of Brighton’s £70 million asking price.

“Having a player of Moi’s characteristics, we all fear that he will leave,” admits Pervis Estupinan; a team-mate of Caicedo’s for both Brighton and Ecuador (The Argus).

“If he stays, I will be very happy to keep playing alongside him and enjoying his football. If he goes, I will wish him all the best because he is a good lad, a good professional. He is a machine.

“If he leaves, we will be opponents. All I’ll ask is he doesn’t give me a whack because he is very strong!”