Although Jorginho only joined Arsenal in the 2023 January transfer window, talk of him departing north London this summer has arisen. The Italy international played a key role in the second half of the 2022/23 season after Thomas Partey's drop in form and defensive injuries saw him feature in the final six Premier League fixtures.
Signed in a £12million deal from Chelsea, Jorginho was brought in on transfer deadline day after the Gunners failed to acquire Moises Caicedo. Despite his move across the capital, the Gunners are aiming to sign two midfielders this summer with West Ham star Declan Rice as the priority, football.london understands.
Other midfield options on Mikel Arteta's shortlist include Ilkay Gundogan, Gabri Veiga, Mason Mount, Martin Zubimendi, Mohamed Kudus, Mason Mount and of course Caicedo. Arsenal continued to send offers to Brighton for their midfielder in the winter window, damaging the working relationship between the two clubs, but the Gunners are planning to go back in him, according to The Times
Two top quality midfielders being bought could result in Jorginho's minutes diminishing, despite Granit Xhaka's impending move to Bayer Leverkusen which is nearly complete, and the 31-year-old may be set for a reunion with his former Chelsea and Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri.
According to La Lazio Siamo Noi (via Sport Witness), the now Lazio manager has asked the Italian club’s president Claudio Lotito to sign the Arsenal midfielder. Jorginho agreed to an 18-month contract, with the option for a further year, when he signed in January and while the Gunners likely have no intention of letting him go so soon, Arteta could use his exit to complete a two-year transfer mission.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the last four windows and Lazio look to be losing the battle to keep him at the club. With his contract up next summer, Milinkovic-Savic has already rejected several fresh offers which means the Italian club could lose him on a free or pre-contract agreement if no extension is sealed.
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This is where the Gunners could help as they can potentially offer a swap deal that involves Jorginho heading to Lazio and Milinkovic-Savic arriving in north London. Despite sending a player the other way, Arsenal would still have to pay some fee, but the switch favours Lazio as they would not need to spend time searching for a replacement as they would have one immediately, which then allows for ample time to spend looking for a long-term successor to the position.
At this moment in time, Jorginho leaving to sign for Lazio is by no means a foregone conclusion but if the opportunity did arrive, it would certainly be a tempting one to take up for Arsenal and Arteta.
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