Arsenal target transfer for Chelsea midfielder

Jacque Talbot

30 Jan 2023 19:21 GMT
3 min read

Chelsea’s Jorginho feels ‘under-appreciated’ in his time at the club — © ProShots

Arsenal are exploring a move for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho before the transfer deadline.

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The Athletic report that the Gunners have put the feelers out over a possible swoop of the Italian after struggling for cover in the centre of the park.

Holding midfielders Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are absent through injury and so the side have decided to look to the market to ensure they have enough in their squad to clinch the Premier League title.

Arsenal are not the only club with an interest in Jorginho, but there could well be movement ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

Jorginho’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires in the summer and so Chelsea would be letting the 31-year-old leave for free unless they sanction a move in January.

Chelsea have stolen the headlines in the closing stages of the window with their record offer for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez.

The Portuguese giants wanted his release clause met - some £105m - but the Blues, who could not afford the full sum at this point, have offered to pay an extra £10m as an incentive to pay but in instalments.

In any case, the purchase of Fernandez would in effect push Jorginho further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, so Arsenal’s effort to lure in the veteran player rests on whether can pull off a move for the Argentine World Cup winner.

Jorginho, who won the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea, could provide the valuable experience needed to ensure Arsenal’s league title aspirations are realised.

© ProShots - Chelsea are closing in on Enzo Fernandez

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez bid

It is still not clear whether Chelsea’s bid for Fernandez has been accepted.

But if they succeed, he would become the Premier League’s most expensive-ever player, putting the £100m Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021 to second place.

Fernandez was named young player of the tournament during Argentina's World Cup triumph in Qatar.