Barcelona targeting January capture of £110k-a-week Arsenal player

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Barcelona are reportedly eyeing up a move for Arsenal midfielder Jorginho.

According to ESPN, Barcelona are keen to bolster their midfield options in the upcoming January transfer window and have identified Arsenal man Jorginho as a potential target.

Arsenal signed Jorginho from Chelsea in January in a deal worth £12 million. The Gunners handed the 48-cap Italy international an 18-month contract, as reported by The Guardian, with the option to extend it by a further year.

If Arsenal don’t elect to trigger that extension, then the 31-year-old will become a free agent at the end of the current campaign. As such, he may be available for a cut-price fee in the winter window. This is a situation which Barcelona seem keen to capitalise on.

Jorginho would certainly bring a great deal of experience and proven quality to the La Liga giants, and would be a natural fit for Barcelona’s passing game.

However, Mikel Arteta would not be wise to sanction the player’s departure in January. Whilst he won’t be a regular starter for the north London club this season, the veteran’s importance at the Emirates Stadium should not be underestimated.

Jorginho still has a key part to play for Arsenal

The £110,000-a-week ace underlined his importance to Arsenal very recently. Handed a start against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, Jorginho produced a calm and composed performance to help guide the Gunners to a 1-0 win. His metronomic presence in the middle of the park ensured that Arsenal didn’t concede control of the match at any point.

Clearly, Jorginho isn’t a player who will be part of Arteta’s long-term plans, but he can still be a key figure this season. His leadership and experience will help the young Arsenal squad navigate the challenges to come in this campaign, and he also provides valuable cover for Declan Rice and the injury-prone Thomas Partey. 

Even if it means losing him for free in the summer, Arsenal must not let Jorginho leave before then.