Romano confirms star Arsenal looked at before Jorginho transfer

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 2 Feb 2023 14:23 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the alternative target Arsenal had looked at before they signed Jorginho from Chelsea was La Liga star Martin Zubimendi.

The Gunners brought in Leandro Trossard during the January transfer window, before sealing the signing of the Italian from west London.

Mikel Arteta had wanted Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo as well but missed out on both.

READ MORE: Chelsea screwed up SECOND Deadline Day transfer

And along with Jorginho, Romano said that the Gunners did have another midfielder on their list - though they didn’t strike for him in the end.

“Martin Zubimendi is one of the players Arsenal also considered for their midfield, but Jorginho was a good option and they decided to proceed for him because Mikel Arteta is big fan and wanted Jorginho when the Moises Caicedo deal collapsed,” Romano told Caught Offside.

“I’m aware Edson Alvarez has also been linked with Arsenal and other clubs, but at the moment it’s completely quiet.”

Zubimendi has enjoyed a great season for Real Sociedad and even Barcelona were said to be interested in the 24-year-old.

Following the injury to Mohamed Elneny, Arteta wanted to bring in someone who could provide cover in midfield and cover for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey when needed.

Jorginho was out of contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer and so Arsenal got the player for just £12m on Deadline Day.

Carragher on move

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said of the move: “Arsenal have gone for [Moises] Caicedo, but maybe they cannot get that done from Brighton, so they have gone for Jorginho, who is an interesting one.

“I can totally understand it, but I was listening to people talk about it today, and he is not the sort of style for Arsenal’s play, which is so quick, fast and energetic now and he is the opposite of that and I get that argument.

“But I also think that with maybe 10 games to go in the season, when they might actually need cool heads when there is a pressure moment and the nerves are coming on in that title run, he may actually be a really good signing in terms of slowing things down with a cool head."