There is certainly plenty of news on the summer transfer rumour mill when it comes to potential incomings and outgoings at Arsenal. Manager Mikel Arteta will definitely be looking to maintain, and then hopefully build on, the successes we had last season – even if we sadly fell at the last hurdle.
There is no denying the achievement it was though to finish as runners up, as very few people indeed saw it coming, despite the clear progress our gaffer had been making with the first team squad.
With links to the likes of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, we can also expect a few departures and one of those is likely to be Granit Xhaka who is expected to make a move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in a £13 million deal. With the speculation also suggesting we have an interest in Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo, and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, given the fees already bandied around, additional moves will likely depend on player sales but one of those sales will not be Jorginho.
It is believed that former Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, wants to be reunited with the 31 year old Italian midfielder but having settled into life in the Premier League, and only just moved to Arsenal back in the January transfer window, he is not yet ready to move back to Serie A given Lazio’s interest in him.
Contractually, we have him tied up until the end of next season, and his deal also includes a 12 month option in our favour and the Evening Standard have referenced sources that state the player has told ‘friends’ that he remains comfortable in London, and especially in light of the strides taken last season, he is more than willing to see what the future holds at the Emirates.
I would not expect this speculation to go away any time soon, as Sarri was, of course, the gaffer who helped Jorginho really develop as a player during their spell together at Napoli, and he was Chelsea manager when the 31 year old made the switch to England in the first place.
But I cannot see him going anywhere yet.
