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Arsenal: Jorginho medical due ‘any minute now’
Arsenal have a medical booked in for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho and the player has even said goodbye to his teammates, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
The Lowdown: Deal agreed
The Gunners have agreed a deal to sign Jorginho for an initial fee of £10m, with an additional £2m in add ons, as confirmed on Twitter by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
While Mikel Arteta will be delighted to finally bring in a new central midfielder, Arsenal may not be done there, as there have been reports that they could still look to bring in Moises Caicedo before the close of play.
And while supporters will likely have an anxious wait right up until 11pm to find out Caicedo’s fate, it seems Jorginho’s future is to be decided much sooner.
The Latest: Phillips’ update
In an interview this morning with GIVEMESPORT, Phillips confirmed that a deal could be done very soon, saying: “Jorginho expects to join Arsenal now. I’m told he even said his goodbyes yesterday at Cobham to the rest of the Chelsea players and the staff. Medical due any minute now.”
The Verdict: Shrewd signing
The fact that Arsenal could make two additions in the engine room today is great news, as the Italian would provide them with some additional depth and a proven track record in the Premier League, making 143 appearances in the competition for Chelsea.
An average of 1.63 interceptions per 90 over the past year is indicative of the maestro’s defensive qualities, while he also has something to offer on the front foot, given that he ranks in the 91st percentile for progressive passes compared to his positional peers, with an average of 5.44.
Granit Xhaka ranks in the 80th percentile for progressive passes while Thomas Partey sits in the 84th, so moving the ball forward quickly from those deep midfield positions is clearly vital to Arteta’s system, and it’s an area Jorginho excels in.
Given that he is approaching the twilight of his career at 31, the manager should still try to bring in a younger option like Caicedo, but if it is not possible, then the Brazil-born ace will still be able to hold his own until the end of the season.
