Arsenal are primed to submit an improved offer for Brighton Moises Caicedo
Arsenal are primed to submit an improved offer for Brighton Moises Caicedo (Picture: Getty)

Tim Sherwood has urged Arsenal to think twice about launching an improved bid for Moises Caicdeo.

The Gunners are desperate to strengthen in midfield in what remains of the transfer window with Mohamed Elneny set to miss the rest of the season and Albert Sambi Lokonga low on confidence and struggling for form.

Thomas Partey was taken off as a precaution at half-time time against Manchester City last night, and although the influential Ghana international is expected to be fit for next weekend’s game at Everton, Mikel Arteta wants to leave nothing to chance with his side in with a great chance of ending a 20-year wait for the Premier League title.

Arsenal have already seen one bid of £60million rejected for Caicedo and are contemplating submitting an improved offer after the player effectively handed in a transfer request on Friday with an extraordinary statement on Instagram.

Sherwood believes the Ecuador international has been massively overpriced by Brighton, however, and pointed to the struggles of Yves Bissouma, Caicedo’s former Seagulls teammate, who has flattered to deceive for Spurs since his summer move from the south coast to north London.

He told Sky Sports: ‘I think the kid needs to look at it very carefully. He’s got to look at it his mate Bissouma who has gone to Tottenham.

‘Everyone was lauding this boy asking where he was going to go. Take his pick, Liverpool? He’s ended up at Tottenham and hasn’t played.

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‘I’m not saying it’s his fault entirely but sometimes you can look a world beater in a Brighton shirt but when they step and play for a huge club it doesn’t happen for them.

‘If everyone is fit he doesn’t play. We’ve dug out some highlights, do you see a £70million player for someone who can run around and tackle?

‘His passing range isn’t fantastic,he scores a goal once in a blue moon.’

Moises Caicedo released statement outlining his intention to leave Brighton on Friday
Moises Caicedo released statement outlining his intention to leave Brighton on Friday (Picture: Instagram)

With less than six months remaining on his current contract, meanwhile, Sherwood believes Youri Tielemans would represent a much smarter addition to a squad lacking in central midfielders.

He added: ‘For me I think it’s an awful lot of money, I think there are better options out there for Arsenal and Tielemans would be another Leicester player I’m selling for Brendan.’

With Brighton already having seen the likes of Bissouma, Marc Cucurella and Leandro Trossard depart in the space of six months, Sherwood can sympathise with those in charge at the Amex, but believes they are still better off taking the money for a player who has effectively gone on strike.

He said: ‘The last thing you want as a manager is unhappy players at your club when their heads are turned by big clubs you unfortunately, invariably end up… you either take the money or you end up with nothing.

‘You end up without the money or the player. You’re better off taking the money.’

MORE : Sporting interested in signing ex-Arsenal star Hector Bellerin to replace Tottenham target Pedro Porro

MORE : Brighton set massive price tag for Arsenal and Chelsea to sign Moises Caicedo this month

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