Arsenal’s chance for midfield reinforcements during the final days of the January transfer window has taken an unexpected turn after reports detail the Gunners could now be interested in striking a deal with domestic rivals Chelsea over veteran Italian international Jorginho.
The former Champions League winner and Euro 2020 standout, 31, is in the final six months of his contract at Stamford Bridge and looked destined to depart west London in the summer, but Arsenal may be open to expediting that process before tomorrow night’s deadline according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, and others.
🚨 Arsenal among clubs exploring possibility of signing Jorginho from Chelsea. Italy midfielder’s contract up in summer + #CFC open to exit (may depend on Enzo Fernandez). 31yo one of options #AFC have expressed interest for. W/ @gunnerblog @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/oFfGfI1cEx
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 30, 2023
Mikel Arteta and club technical director Edu Gaspar has been hot on the tail of Brighton’s 21-year-old Ecuadorian international standout Moisés Caicedo after the central midfielder has rapidly developed at the AMEX Stadium on the south coast since his loan spell with Beerschot VA was cut short last season.
But Brighton remains adamant that Caicedo is not for sale this late in the window given the context surrounding the club’s chances at qualifying for the Europa League as the Seagulls continue to fly high under Roberto De Zerbi, as well as the central talisman being borderline irreplaceable this close to deadline day.
Arsenal has thus far offered up to £70m for the player, but Brighton looks to hold firm in the wake of having to part ways with a number of key assets across the last two seasons, including current Gunners duo Ben White and Leandro Trossard.
As such, Jorginho, who offers a wealth of Premier League and continental experience, could at the very least provide a relatively solid short-term solution when it comes to Arsenal’s lack of trusted central depth behind key duo Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.
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