Arsenal star 'would be delighted to sign for Barcelona'

Tom Weber

Updated: 5 Mar 2024 20:18 GMT
3 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Barcelona have identified Jorginho as a potential transfer target, according to Spanish media.

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The Arsenal star is out of contract in the summer and therefore a particularly interesting option for cash-strapped Barcelona. The recent injuries to Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri have only hammered home what the Blaugrana hierarchy already knew: midfield reinforcements are desperately needed.

Head coach Xavi, who will depart the club after the current season, had been desperately crying out for a new holding midfielder in the two previous transfer windows following the departure of club legend and former teammate Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami.

The club's severe financial limitations, however, simply made the signing of a long-term replacement impossible, with veteran former Chelsea man Oriol Romeu the only reinforcement in that position this season. The 32-year-old is expected to depart the club again in the summer.

Barca eye Jorginho

According to Sport, Barcelona have now once again begun targeting Arsenal midfielder Jorginho ahead of the summer, having already previously looked at him in January and even before he signed for Chelsea in 2018. The Italian would be a free transfer, but the Gunners are said to be open to potentially handing him a new deal, which could complicate the matter.

Moreover, the Brazil-born midfielder is the same age as Romeu and therefore also just a short-term fix for a long-term issue. Though not a regular starter under Mikel Arteta due to his lack of pace, Jorginho is nevertheless a reliable midfielder and viewed as a key part of Arsenal's squad.

Intriguingly, the above-mentioned report claims that "he would be delighted to sign for Barça." Despite the Blaugrana having set themselves the objective of not signing players over the age of 30, the pressing need for an affordable midfielder with proven quality means that they will consider every option.