Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has insisted that his side are ready to "go forward" without Moises Caicedo should the Ecuador international leave the club before Tuesday's January transfer deadline.
The 21-year-old has been the subject of interest from Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal in January, and the Gunners are understood to have submitted an offer of £60m last week.
Brighton swiftly rejected the bid for a player that they value closer to £100m, but Caicedo announced his desire to leave the Amex Stadium within hours of Arsenal submitting their offer.
"I am grateful to Mr. Bloom and Brighton for giving me the chance to come to the Premier League and I feel I have always done my best for them. I always play football with a smile and with heart," Caicedo wrote on social media.
"I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador.
"I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful.
"The fans have taken me into their hearts and they will always be in my heart so I hope they can understand why I want to take up this magnificent opportunity."
Following Caicedo's bombshell announcement, he was not involved in Brighton's matchday squad for Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Liverpool, which the Seagulls won 2-1.
Speaking to the press after the game, De Zerbi affirmed that he wants Caicedo - who was apparently told to stay away from training - to remain at the club, but he insisted that his side will survive without the Ecuador international.
"Caicedo is a very, very good guy. I can understand him, when you are 21 and you receive the request of a big, big team that are playing in European competition," De Zerbi explained.
"I have a big respect for the players and Caicedo is a very good guy. I love him, I respect his decision. I would like it if he can stay and finish the season, but we will see in the next days.
"For sure he is a good guy and only this. I would like him to finish the season with us but we are ready to go forward without him."
Caicedo has recorded two goals and three assists in 31 games for Brighton since arriving from Independiente del Valle in 2021, including one goal and one assist from 18 Premier League games this term.
With the Ecuadorian frozen out, Brighton came from behind to dump Liverpool out of the FA Cup, as Lewis Dunk and Kaoru Mitoma cancelled out Harvey Elliott's opener.
De Zerbi's side, who also sit sixth in the Premier League table, are next in action at home to Bournemouth in the top flight on Saturday afternoon. body check tags ::
