According to reports in Italy, as relayed by SPORT, Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is a man in demand heading into the new year. The 31-year-old is out of contract with the Blues at the end of the season and can start negotiating with teams from outside England over a pre-contract agreement for the summer.
A number of top teams have shown an interest in securing the services of Jorginho, with the list including Barcelona. However, the Catalans are set to face competition from the midfielder’s ex-employers Napoli as well as Premier League’s nouveau-riche, Newcastle United.
Jorginho has been with Chelsea since 2018 and is closing on completing his fifth season at the club. Negotiations over a new deal are taking place as his agent Joao Santos recently confirmed that they had received a new offer from the Blues.
But, as per the aforementioned report, Jorginho does not intend to put pen to paper on the proposal tabled by Chelsea and will assess his options in the coming days as he will now be able to start talks with clubs over a free transfer in the summer.
While Xavi is keen on persuading Busquets to stay for another season, there is nothing certain about his future and an exit remains on the table. In such a scenario, Barça will need to rope in a replacement, with Jorginho an option.
In case he does not opt to renew with Chelsea, the Catalan giants could land him for a free transfer, which would appeal to them given their financial situation.
However, a lot would hinge on the player’s wage demands, which a club like Newcastle United would be in a much better position to meet. A return to his former club Napoli could also appeal to the Italian international, making it tricky for Barcelona to sign him.
