Arsenal veteran in talks to join Brazilian giants amid contract renewal uncertainty: Reports
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho is reportedly in discussions to join Brazilian giants Palmeiras. The Italian midfielder, who signed with the Gunners in 2023, is set to become a free agent in the summer as uncertainty surrounds his future.
Jorginho has been a key figure for Mikel Arteta over the past two years. However, with Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, and Thomas Partey ahead of him in Arteta’s pecking order, he has experienced limited game time this season.
According to ESPN, the 33-year-old’s agent, Joao Santos, is actively exploring potential opportunities, as his contract nears its expiration. The report indicates that talks have taken place between Palmeiras and Jorginho’s representatives, although discussions remain in the early stages. Interestingly, a move to Brazil would not be unfamiliar territory for Jorginho, as he was born in the country before moving to Italy at the age of 15.
In addition to Jorginho, Thomas Partey’s contract is also set to expire in June. While Arteta has expressed his appreciation for both players, he believes that the final decision appears to rest with the players.
“What I can say is that it’s not about what I want, it’s about what those players have in their minds as well and their situations. I don’t want to start to have these conversations now. I want to have this conversation much later because the focus now has to be on what we have to do in the season. They can understand the intentions and then we’ll see what we can do,” Arteta said (via Arseblog)
Jorginho has made 69 appearances for the Gunners but has started only seven games this season. Nevertheless, his departure would still be a loss for Arsenal, not just due to his quality on the pitch, but also because of his presence in the dressing room.
Mikel Arteta breaks silence on Arsenal’s January transfer window plans
Arsenal find themselves in a challenging situation with injuries, particularly the one to Bukayo Saka, which has dealt a significant blow to Mikel Arteta’s plans.
While the Gunners have depth in attacking positions, Liverpool’s form in the Premier League puts additional pressure on them to improve their performances. With Saka ruled out for the long term, there is speculation about whether Arteta will look to sign a forward during the January transfer window.
However, the Spanish manager has indicated that signing a player who can make an immediate impact in the winter transfer window will be a difficult task.
"First of all, someone that can impact the team, bringing in bodies doesn’t help us all. It’s just about somebody who can immediately impact our performance and can bring something that we don’t have. To find that in this market is very difficult to achieve,” he said (via Arsenal website)
Arsenal faced a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at home in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg this week. They are now set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday followed by a mid-week Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
