Newcastle United are considering a move for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho in the January transfer window.
The Italy international, 31, is about to enter the final six months of his contract at Stamford Bridge, meaning he would be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from next month onward. Having recently signed Brazilian teenager Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama for £20m, the Blues are looking at the future and could allow Jorginho to leave.
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are eyeing a cut-price deal for Chelsea’s Jorginho when the transfer window reopens in the New Year. It is not clear whether the Pensioners are ready to sanction his departure in the midst of the season, though.
The report adds that Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly and manager Graham Potter have been focusing on rebuilding the squad with young and hungry talent, and as in this case, letting go of players in their thirties who have been there and done that.
They are also interested in signing Benfica starlet Enzo Fernandez, who won the World Cup with Argentina earlier this month and could be Jorginho’s like-for-like replacement.
Jorginho to Newcastle United—The right option?
Newcastle United had a solid summer transfer window and the wealthy owners will look to spend again to back manager Eddie Howe in his pursuit of qualifying for the Champions League. Howe wants to ensure he has the squad to deal with the gruelling nature of the second half of the campaign, and thus, he is set to demand a couple of players next month.
One of the positions the Magpies boss is seemingly targeting is the midfield. Bruno Guimaraes is the only deep-lying playmaker Newcastle have in their squad, so Howe could target a player in a similar ilk who could dictate the tempo of play with his passing range and vision. And Jorginho, in that regard, fits the bill perfectly, though he lacks the dynamism of the Brazilian.
Jorginho has played 200 games for Chelsea since joining from Napoli in 2018, scoring 29 goals. He has won the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup during his tenure at Stamford Bridge so far and, while the Italian remains a key cog in Potter’s side, Chelsea haven’t offered him a new contract yet.
This gives the chance for Newcastle to swoop in and get a player who is hugely experienced at the highest level and will bring a winning mentality to Howe’s squad. At 31, Jorginho still has a lot to offer and would instantly improve the Magpies’ midfield. Plus, he could provide Howe’s side with the boost they need to finish in the top four this season.
On a potential bargain deal in January, Newcastle signing Jorginho from Chelsea would represent a terrific piece of business.
