Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has conceded that in-demand midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo may have played their final games for the Seagulls.
The South American duo have been integral in the Seagulls' successful push for European football, helping Brighton finish sixth in the Premier League table in the 2022-23 season.
De Zerbi's men sealed qualification for the Europa League with a 1-1 draw at home to champions Manchester City in midweek, before ending their campaign with a 2-1 away defeat to Europa Conference League-bound Aston Villa.
Following confirmation that the Seagulls would be competing on the continent last weekend, De Zerbi stated that Caicedo and Mac Allister deserve to play at a higher level amid interest from top Premier League clubs.
The Seagulls boss initially expressed hope at his side chances of convincing the pair to stay on given their qualification for the Europa League, but De Zerbi has now admitted that Caicedo and Mac Allister could be sold to fulfil their Champions League ambitions.
"I think it can be the last game for Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo at Brighton. I am really sorry because they are two great players but the policy of Brighton is like this. It is right that they can leave, to play at higher level," De Zerbi told the press.
Ecuadorian midfielder Caicedo was close to departing in January, as Arsenal came in with two bids for the 21-year-old, both of which were rejected by Brighton.
In between the Gunners' failed offers, Caicedo dropped a bombshell announcement on social media, confessing that he wanted to leave the club and take up a "magnificent opportunity" at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Brighton successfully rebuffed bids for the former Independiente del Valle starlet, who ended the 2022-23 season with one goal and one assist from 37 Premier League matches following a brief exile in their FA Cup fourth-round win over Liverpool.
In the wake of his social media admission, Caicedo surprisingly penned a new Brighton contract until the summer of 2027, but the South American is still expected to be on the way out if a club-record offer is tabled.
Arsenal are expected to reignite their interest in Caicedo this summer, but Brighton could apparently be reluctant to negotiate with the Gunners after their warnings to end their pursuit of the Ecuadorian were not heeded in January.
Meanwhile, Mac Allister ended the 2022-23 season as Brighton's top goalscorer in all competitions with 12 strikes to his name, 10 of which came in the Premier League, while he also played a key role in Argentina's World Cup triumph.
The 24-year-old's contract at the Amex Stadium runs until the summer of 2025 with the option of a further year, but he is now expected to sign for Liverpool in a big-money deal.
A recent report claimed that Mac Allister was close to agreeing personal terms with the Reds, who could end up forking out as much as £70m to prise him away from Brighton.
Manchester City are supposedly hoping to hijack Liverpool's swoop for Mac Allister, though, while Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has denied claims that the Argentine has already agreed to leave the club this summer. body check tags ::
