Arsenal explored the possibility of signing two eye-catching midfielders who ply their trade on the continent before wrapping up a deal for Jorginho, according to reports.
The Gunners moved to address their lack of options in the centre of the park by signing Jorginho from Chelsea on a short-term contract in a transfer worth £12million. The Italian, 31, moved across London on deadline day to provide Mikel Arteta with an experienced and decorated midfield controller.
The deal came to pass after Arsenal missed out on their priority target, Moises Caicedo, with Brighton standing firm over their £80million asking price. The north Londoners failed with multiple bids for the Ecuadorian, 21, despite him demanding to leave the Amex Stadium in a public statement last Friday.
Having acknowledged the fact Caicedo would be going nowhere, Arsenal focussed their efforts on other targets who could provide back-up for first-choice duo Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka. Jorginho was the player welcomed to London Colney training ground on Tuesday, but he was far from the only player on the club's radar as the window wound down.
Two other players were in consideration to bolster Arteta's ranks, according to The Athletic, but both would have cost substantially more than Jorginho. Martin Zubimendi was one of these options after his meteoric rise at hometown club Real Sociedad.
The 23-year-old has already racked up 171 club appearances and is a Spain international, so is is no surprise that attention was drawn to his £53million release clause. However, Zubimendi was keen to stay in Spain and see out a season which could end in Champions League qualification for Real Sociedad, who sit third in the La Liga table.
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The report adds Edson Alvarez was the other name discussed by Emirates chiefs. Premier League fans might remember that the Mexico international, 25, went on strike towards the end of the last summer transfer window in an unsuccessful bid to force through a £43million transfer to Chelsea.
He subsequently returned to the fold at Ajax and has continued to impress for the Eredivisie giants, but Arteta preferred to sign Jorginho from Arsenal's capital rivals. The Brazil-born veteran has a markedly different profile to the likes of Caicedo, Zubimendi and Alvarez, who are more defensive-minded players.
Although he sits in front of the backline, Jorginho is best as a playmaker who sees lots of the ball. He divided opinion among Chelsea fans throughout much of his four-and-a-half-year stint at Stamford Bridge but helped the Blues reach the pinnacle of European football with Champions League success in 2021, earning himself the coveted UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award.
