Lazio are keen on signing Chelsea ace Jorginho who will enter the final year of his contract but will face tough competition from Serie A rivals.
According to the print edition of Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Tutto Mercato Web, Lazio are monitoring Jorginho’s situation as Maurizio Sarri is eyeing a reunion with his former midfielder for next season. The Chelsea ace will enter the final year of his contract and a move away from Stamford Bridge may become a possibility.
Sarri and Jorginho worked together at Napoli, where they achieved reasonable success. The Italian tactician had played a big part in the midfielder’s development and certainly trusts his style for his system. As soon as he became the manager of Chelsea, he requested the club sign Jorginho, which they obliged and signed him from under the noses of rivals Manchester City.
Jorginho has tasted success at Chelsea, winning the Europa League, Champions League and the Club World Cup, although the Premier League title has eluded him. And as the midfielder gets set to enter the final year of his deal at the club, he could be set for a summer departure.
Sarri wants his current employers Lazio to make an approach for the midfielder, although the problem of affordability could come back to bite the manager. The Serie A giants are working on a tight budget and require a central midfielder, as a replacement for Lucas Leiva.
While they have several options on their radar, Sarri is keen on signing Jorginho on priority. The midfielder will cost a significant sum, even if he has one year left on his contract with Chelsea. Moreover, Lazio would face intense competition from fellow Serie A club Juventus for the midfielder.
AC Milan are also considering Jorginho as a replacement for Franck Kessie, who will join Barcelona in the summer. Even for Milan, the deal may not work out owing to financial implications, leaving only Juventus as the viable contender.
Lazio are also preparing to sell players like Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to raise funds for their summer transfer plans. However, the final decision may depend on the midfielder, whose decision could be based on several factors, including Champions League football.
