Jorginho: close to closing a deal for the Chelsea midfielder, Arsenal remain ready to finalize a deal for Brighton's Moises Caicedo (2023)

Arsenal are close to reaching a £12m deal for midfielder Jorginho with Chelsea.

The 31-year-old midfielder is expected to sign an 18-month contract with an option to extend for a further year.

The Italian is in the last six months of his contract with Chelsea and the Blues are looking to secure a British record transfer for Benfica central midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Arsenal have received two offers for Brightonmoises caicedoturned down with the second cost of £70m and remains hot in the Ecuador international and ready to strike a deal if the south coast side change course.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are in talks, according to reports on Tuesday.Kristallpalastin a loan agreement forwatch out sambi.

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Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal sought to sign Jorginho in the summer of 2020, a year before the midfielder won the Champions League and Euro Cup with Italy.

Arteta was also an assistant manager at Manchester City when they tried to sign him in 2018, but Jorginho turned down the move, opting instead to join Chelsea from Napoli for Maurizio Sarri.

Arsenal short of midfield options and announced Egyptian international on Deadline DayMohamed Elnenysuffered a "major" knee injury.

A club statement said: "Following an injury sustained in a recent training session, subsequent investigations have confirmed that Mohamed Elneny has a significant injury to his right knee.

“Mo has had a successful operation in London and will be out for an extended period. A more detailed schedule will be established once the initial stages of rehabilitation are complete.

"Everyone at the club will offer Mo all the support he needs and will work hard with him to get him back in action as soon as possible.

Analysis: Carragher and Merson positive about Jorginho's play

Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports:

“Arsenal went to [Moises] Caicedo, but maybe they can't do that from Brighton, so they went to Jorginho, which is interesting. I can totally understand, but I've been hearing people talk about it today and he's not the Arsenal kind of playing style that's so quick and fast and energetic at the moment and it's the opposite of that and I understand that argument.

"But I also think with maybe 10 games left in the season, when they really need to have a cool head, when there's a moment of pressure and the nerves are getting to that title, coming in with seven or eight games is maybe a very good is Time to slow down with a cool head, he's a league champion player, he's won a European championship in recent years, so he's a top player, for sure, but he's a different kind of player.

"But I'm not saying that's the case with Arsenal week after week, but I think it could be a big help for them at the end of the season when they get nervous."

REVIEW: When Arsenal tried to sign Jorginho on a deadline date in 2020

We've been here before with Arsenal to sign Jorginho on Deadline Day. Flash back to October 2020 when Mikel Arteta first tried to tempt the Italian into moving to London.

This was reported by Sky Sports at the time...

Squad strength, Europe, experience... why Arsenal should be considered for Jorginho

Gail Davis, de Sky Sports News:

"People can be surprised when you look at the profile of the players Arsenal have signed, but Mikel Arteta indicated the day he signed Leandro Trossard that they need players who are fit and ready to go straight to the Premier League. This is Jorginho.

"Arsenal have little space in midfield. Mohamed Elneny is out and Arteta was non-committal when he was able to return. We know Thomas Partey was injured in the cup and had an MRI on his ribs. So the team are looking slim there.

“Europe is about to start again and they are going to play Thursday-Sunday-Thursday-Sunday and they want someone else to be there.

“Moises Caicedo is the man who has drawn a lot of attention from Chelsea and Arsenal, who have made two proposals. Brighton says it's not for sale.

"If Arsenal weren't in this position in the league, chasing their first title in almost two decades, would Arsenal and Arteta be moving like this? But it's an interesting deadline day."

Analysis: Arsenal can't wait for a new midfielder

Nick Wright de Sky Sports:

One of the main factors behind Arsenal's success this season is that they have managed to keep Thomas Partey in shape. The Ghanaian was sorely missed during his time on the sideline last season and Arsenal's record with and without him proves it.

It also factors in the current season and Arsenal's win rate is 74% in Premier League games they have started, compared to just 50% in games they have lost.

The qualitative gap between him and his assistants Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga is simply too wide and the Egyptian's injury further reveals Arsenal's lack of depth.

Waiting until the summer, when the club hopes to sign Declan Rice from West Ham, is now even riskier than before and that means action is needed outside the late January window.

Arsenal's schedule has been relatively friendly since Christmas but is picking up in early February, with a run of four Premier League games in 14 days followed by the resumption of the Europa League campaign in March.

Partey's load must be managed to minimize the risk of injury and that will only be possible if Mikel Arteta's wish for a viable alternative to the 29-year-old's job is fulfilled.

Arsenal's recruitment in recent years has been geared towards the long term, but now, at the top of the Premier League and with the added burden of future European commitments, a short-term solution is needed.