Izuchukwu OkosiArsenal Football Club on Saturday disassociated itself from the social media activities of the reported transfer target, Moises Caicedo.
The Ecuadorian on Friday called on his club, Brighton, to let him leave the club amid the interest in him from Premier league leaders, Arsenal, and London rivals, Chelsea.
Caicedo cited his selfless service to the Seagulls and poor family background as reasons why the club should accept a bid from one of his suitors.
“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,” Caicedo stated on his Instagram page.
“I always play football with a smile and with heart. I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream has always been 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.”
Chelsea saw a £55 million offer rejected while Arsenal’s £60 million was also turned down on Friday.
READ ALSO: Two Big Transfers Likely To Happen Before Tuesday Deadline Day
However, there are updates from reliable sources in England that suggest the Gunners on Saturday went back with a slightly better offer of £60 million and £10 million in add-ons.
Arsenal has completed deals for Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior after the disappointments of losing the duo of Joao Felix and Mykailo Mudryk to Chelsea.
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta is looking to add to his midfield as a result of the injury to Mohamed Elneny albeit on a good note, the rib injury of first choice defensive midfielder, Thomas Partey is not as bad as first feared.
The Ghanaian could make a return to the team’s lineup for the February 4 Premier League game against Everton.
The January transfer window officially comes to an end on Tuesday evening at 11 pm Nigerian time with Rome running out for Arteta to find a capable deputy for Partey.
Brighton has opted to give the want-away star some days off and expects him to return to training on Wednesday, February 1 after missing Saturday’s training session in a bid to drive home his request to leave the club.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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