Arsenal chiefs are reportedly ready to sanction two big-money moves for West Ham United's Declan Rice and Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo this summer.
Despite Jorginho's largely positive impact since arriving from Chelsea in January, the Gunners will prioritise the signings of more midfield reinforcements ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Arsenal's pursuit of the Italy international was only triggered on deadline day after they conceded defeat in their efforts to prise Caicedo away from Brighton, having seen two bids rejected.
Caicedo dropped a bombshell announcement on social media following news of Arsenal's first failed offer, confirming that he wanted to leave the Seagulls and take up the opportunity with Mikel Arteta's side.
The Ecuador international was briefly dropped from the team before a surprise turn of events saw him pen a new contract until 2027, but Brighton are still braced for bids in the upcoming window.
© Reuters
According to The Times, Arsenal are hoping to secure the signatures of both Caicedo and Rice in an ambitious double swoop, and the Gunners could very well surpass their single-window spending record.
The Gunners hierarchy are supposedly ready to back Arteta with as much as £200m in funds, and approximately £170m of that warchest would be used on the signings of Caicedo and Rice.
West Ham have hitherto refused to entertain offers of less than £100m for Rice, but the Hammers are now resigned to losing their captain this summer, as his contract expires at the end of next season.
Arsenal are therefore said to be optimistic of driving the price down to around £90m, while a move for Caicedo could force them to splash out at least another £70m and potentially up to £80m.
However, there have been suggestions that Brighton will refuse to enter negotiations with Arsenal over Caicedo in the wake of the Gunners' relentless efforts to sign the 21-year-old over the winter.
© Reuters
Arsenal apparently did not heed warnings to back off when told that Caicedo was not for sale under any circumstances, and Brighton are therefore hesitant to do business with their North London counterparts again.
Nevertheless, De Zerbi has admitted that Brighton may be forced to wave goodbye to Caicedo this summer as Chelsea and Liverpool prepare to rival Arsenal for his signature.
Similarly, West Ham boss David Moyes has conceded that there is a "good chance" that Rice - who is pining for Champions League football - could depart the London Stadium at the end of the season.
Rice is believed to have rejected several renewal offers from West Ham, and Arsenal are currently seen as the favourites for his signature, but Manchester United are supposedly keeping a close eye on the situation as well.
A 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday leaves Arsenal four points behind Manchester City in second place, and their title hopes will be over if the champions get the better of Chelsea this weekend.
Ben Knapton
