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Arsenal are seriously considering a move for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho; the Gunners are still prepared to do a deal for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo if the Seagulls change their “not for sale” stance; Mikel Arteta wants a new midfielder on Deadline Day
The Gunners see a potential opportunity as the player is into the final six months of his contract, with Chelsea trying to finalise a deal for Enzo Fernandez.
Arsenal remain ready to do a deal for Moises Caicedo if Brighton change their “not for sale” stance.
What is clear is the Premier League leaders are pushing hard to strengthen the midfield area on Deadline Day.
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal tried to sign Jorginho in the summer of 2020, the year before the midfielder won the Champions League and European Championships with Italy.
Arteta was also the assistant coach at Manchester City when they tried to sign him in 2018 – but Jorginho turned down the move to join Maurizio Sarri instead at Chelsea from Napoli.
Why Arsenal can’t wait for a new midfielder
One of the most important factors behind Arsenal’s success this season is that they have been able to keep Thomas Partey fit. The Ghanaian was sorely missed during his periods on the sidelines last term and Arsenal’s record with and without him proves it.
In fact, factor in the current campaign as well and Arsenal’s win rate stands at 74 per cent in the Premier League games he has started compared to just 50 per cent in the ones he has missed.
The gulf in quality between him and his deputies, Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga, is simply too large and the Egyptian’s injury exposes Arsenal’s lack of depth even more glaringly.
Waiting until the summer, when the club hope to recruit Declan Rice from West Ham, is now even riskier than it was and that means action is required before the end of January window.
Arsenal’s schedule has been relatively kind since Christmas, but it ramps up with a run of four Premier League games in 14 days at the start of February, and that’s followed by the resumption of their Europa League campaign in March.
Partey’s load will need to be managed in order to minimise the risk of injury and that will only be possible if Mikel Arteta is granted his wish for a viable alternative in the 29-year-old’s position.
Arsenal’s recruitment in recent years has centred on the long-term but right now, top of the Premier League and with the added burden of European commitments to come, a short-term solution is needed.
