Arsenal exit ruled out for Jorginho despite Lazio links amid midfield overhaul
orginho is planning to remain at Arsenal this summer, the player’s agent has confirmed.
The Italian midfielder’s future at the Emirates Stadium had already become subject to doubt, just five months after he blazed a similar trail to Kai Havertz by swapping Chelsea for the Gunners in a £12million deadline day deal.
Jorginho went on to make 16 appearances for Arsenal in the second half of last season as they fell short in their surprise Premier League title charge, but was not a regular starter under Mikel Arteta.
And with Arsenal preparing a looming midfield overhaul to keep pace with champions Manchester City and fight for glory both domestically and in the Champions League next term, rumours had begun to build over a likely summer exit.
The Gunners are embroiled in a fierce bidding war with City for West Ham captain Declan Rice, while they also wanted Ilkay Gundogan before his decision to leave City for Barcelona and have been linked with the likes of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and Brighton star Moises Caicedo.
Arsenal also believe that imminent £65m arrival Havertz, used primarily as a striker during his three years at Chelsea, can play alongside captain Martin Odegaard in a new No8 role next season.
Such a revamp will lead to Granit Xhaka joining Bayer Leverkusen, while Arsenal are also open to selling Thomas Partey amid interest from Juventus and Saudi Arabia, as well as Albert Sambi Lokonga. Mohamed Elneny, meanwhile, is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on a season-ending knee injury back in January.
A return to Serie A and a reunion with former Napoli and Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri at Lazio had been most heavily mooted for Jorginho, though his agent has now confirmed that his client is going nowhere.
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“Jorginho is very happy with Arsenal who have a very important championship to play, at the beginning of August there is the Community Shield [against Man City],” Joao Santos told Italian TV.
“There is no negotiation with Lazio. I don’t know if they have the money to pay the player, but that’s not the question.
“He [Jorginho] stays really well at Arsenal and in our mind, for the next season, there is only the Gunners.
Staying put: Jorginho has no intention of leaving Arsenal this summer, his agent claims
/ Getty Images“The theme is clear: the project for next year is to stay at Arsenal which can become the most important team in England.
“Coach Arteta is the most important in the Premier League, he understands modern football like no one else and, obviously, someone like Jorginho goes very well with someone like him.”
