Chelsea have reportedly entered the race for Jorginho and could play spoilsport in Manchester City’s pursuit of the Napoli midfielder.
Manchester Evening News are claiming that there has been a fresh twist in the transfer saga involving Manchester City and Jorginho. The player has seen himself being linked with Chelsea again, with the Blues aiming to hijack City’s pursuit of the Napoli midfielder.
Jorginho’s progress as a midfielder has been remarkable ever since joining Napoli from Hellas Verona in the summer of 2014. Having completed his fourth season with the Partenopei, Jorginho is now a revered quantity not just in Serie A but the whole of Europe.
Jorginho was tipped to join Manchester City. Manchester United had come close to being an option. But, the playmaker’s eagerness to be coached by Pep Guardiola saw his transfer to City become almost a formality.
Napoli and Manchester City though, have been unable to come to terms over the transfer fees. The report states that Manchester City do not plan on meeting the £53 million price tag that Napoli have slapped on Jorginho. City value Jorginho at around £35 million and are not willing to punch up in order to land the midfielder.
Come to think of it, Manchester City do not really need a midfielder immediately. The prospect of bringing in either Fred or Jorginho was because Pep Guardiola wanted to slowly phase out the likes of Fernandinho and David Silva from the starting eleven.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are close to a breakthrough to sign Maurizio Sarri as their new manager. The Blues plan to lure Jorginho and a few other players from Napoli with the face of Sarri.
Chelsea’s need for midfielders is well established. Cesc Fabregas, Tiemoue Bakayoko and N’Golo Kante were the only players challenging for a starting spot under Antonio Conte. With Kante also linked with a move away from the club and Bakayoko not really managing to replicate his AS Monaco form, midfield reinforcements are necessary.
The rumour could just be Napoli’s trick of getting Manchester City to up their bid and come close to their own valuation of Jorginho. But, the Premier League champions have shown incredible patience so far in the transfer market as regards the targets they have in mind.
And it is unlikely to change in Jorginho’s case. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea indeed move for Jorginho after the arrival of Maurizio Sarri. But, in case they do not, Napoli could end up with an unhappy player within the roster. Jorginho has respected the club till now by not handing a transfer request.
Should he do so, Napoli might have to bow down to Manchester City and their valuation. With Jorginho almost ‘too eager’ to play under Guardiola, this has a fair chance of being the case.
