Why Chelsea may need to sell Jorginho this summer
FT Desk
- 15 Apr 2022 17:45 BST
- 7 min read
Chelsea may well be out of contention for any silverware this season, if they aren't able to get past Crystal Palace in their FA Cup semi-final this weekend.
Indeed, much of the feel-good factor from last season's Champions League sucess has washed away and all that is left is a Chelsea squad that Thomas Tuchel will surely look to gut in the summer off-season.
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Some major changes will surely come in midfield, where the club will be mulling over reported interest in Jorginho.
The Italy international has been linked with a move to Juventus, according to Gazzetta dello Sport and in any ways this summer may be the best time for Chelsea to cash in on the midfielder.
This is the last time to cash in on the midfielder
Chelsea have built up a reputation for being smart operators in the transfer market and when they look at Jorginho’s situation at the club they’ll surely come to the conclusion that this summer is the right time to sell Jorginho.
The midfielder is set to turn 31 at the end of the year, which means he’s now approaching the point in his career when his performances will begin to drop off. Especially in comparison to other top midfielders in the Premier League.
And once coupled with the fact that the player’s contract at Chelsea is set to expire in 2023, it means the club will either have to offer Jorginho a new deal and commit to him in the long term or draw a line under his time at the club and sell him this summer.
They already have an ideal replacement
Unlike other positions in the squad that would require Chelsea to spend big on new replacements, the club already have a ready-made successor to Jorginho on their books in the form of Conor Gallagher.
The young England international has been one of the Premier League’s top performers this season at Crystal Palace and there’s little doubt that he’ll be returning to Chelsea this summer to stake a claim for one of the starting roles in midfield.
As such, even if Chelsea are in two minds about whether to keep or sell Jorginho this summer, the return of Gallagher may end up forcing their hand.
