How bizarre Billy Arce signing could help Brighton capture Man United target Moises Caicedo

Ecuador's Moises Caicedo celebrates after scoring against Uruguay during their 2022 World Cup South American qualifier

Brighton are said to have tabled a firm a £4.5million bid for Caicedo, who has been persistently linked with a move to Manchester United.

The 19-year-old Ecuador international - capped four times by his country - has caught the eye of many Premier League clubs with West Ham, Chelsea and Newcastle also in the mix.

Albion are said to be in pole-position and have maintained a good relationship with Independiente after signing Billy Arce in 2018.

Brighton, who have added Polish international Jakub Moder and South African striker Percy Tau to their squad this January, are keen to wrap up the deal for Caicedo this weekend.

"We have received an offer from a European club for Moises Caicedo," said Independiente manager, Santiago Morales.

"We are negotiating the proposal. It is most likely that he will not be in our team in 2021. Due to the proposal we've received, it is very difficult to keep him."

Caicedo joined Independiente at the age of 13, progressed through their youth ranks and reached the first team in 2019, where he has four goals from 25 appearances.

His impressive displays saw him called up to Ecuador national team in October 2020 and made his debut in a World Cup qualifier 1-0 against Argentina.

He scored the first goal for his country in a 4-2 home win over Uruguay and became the first player born in the 21st century to net in a World Cup qualifier.

Albion will sincerely hope any future deal will work out better than Arce's signing in 2018.

Arce agreed a four-year contract with Brighton in August 2018 after he joined for a reported £860,000 from Independiente Del Valle of Ecquardor, where he scored 18 goals in 52 appearances.

He has never played for Brighton and has had loan spells at Extremadura in the Spanish second division, Ecuadorian outfits Emelec and then Barcelona SC.

Arce was then arrested in his home country of Ecuador in October 2019 as the then 21-year-old was caught drink driving, and taken to prison for 20 days, plus 50 hours community service.