Arsenal urged to sign former Chelsea target instead of Moises Caicedo after rejected bids

Arsenal have been urged to sign former target Amadou Onana instead of after Brighton rejected their second offer.

Mikel Arteta is keen to sign a new midfielder before the January transfer window closes to provide cover and competition for Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.

Ecuador international Caicedo has emerged as Arsenal’s top target and the Gunners have seen two offers for the Brighton midfielder rejected.

Arsenal’s opening bid was worth £60m and their second rose to £70m. While Brighton are digging their heels in and insist Caicedo is not for sale, Arsenal are now considering making a £75m offer, which if successful would be a club-record deal.

Brighton show no signs of softening their stance, however, which could leave Arsenal to turn to other targets before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday night.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has tipped Arsenal to make a late move for Everton midfielder Onana and says he could be a decent alternative to Caicedo.

Everton signed Belgium international Onana from Lille last summer in a deal worth around £40m. While the Toffees have struggled this season, the 21-year-old has shown glimpses of his potential and was linked with Chelsea earlier in the window.

‘Amadou Onana is a very powerful, athletic player,’ Robinson told . ‘I have been really impressed with him since he’s come to England.

‘He has not been consistent this season but he has easily been one of Everton’s best players.

‘If Arsenal are priced out of a move for Caicedo, they could put in a bid for Onana. It would certainly be cheaper.

‘Everton are not in a position where they can afford to sell anybody though. They have just lost [Anthony] Gordon and I don’t think they should be selling anyone else given the position they are in. They have not spent their money well in recent years.

‘Onana would be a great signing for Arsenal but at the same time, Everton really shouldn’t sell. It will be an interesting one to watch.’

As Robinson stated, Everton finally agreed to sell Anthony Gordon to Premier League rivals Newcastle United earlier this week.

The Toffees, currently in the relegation zone, unveiled Sean Dyche as their new manager on Monday following Frank Lampard’s sacking.

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