Runaway Serie A leaders Napoli are not alone in the race to sign soon-to-be free agent Jorginho from Chelsea at the end of the season. As reported by Spanish outlet Sport, La Liga pacesetters Barcelona have added the Italian midfielder to their list of targets.
Jorginho’s current deal at Chelsea runs out at the end of the season. With the Blues unable to commit the 31-year-old to a new contract, clubs outside England can start negotiating a pre-contract agreement for the summer in January. One of them is Napoli.
It’s hard to imagine Jorginho turning down the possibility of returning to Naples if the opportunity presents itself. He made a name for himself at the Stadio Diego Maradona before former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri took him to Chelsea in 2018.
After four impressive years in Serie A, Jorginho has gone from strength to strength in the Premier League. But despite his household status in west London, the Italy international could be on his way out in six months. Naples has immediately emerged as a potential destination.
Luciano Spalletti is keen on bolstering his midfield options, especially amid his side’s genuine Scudetto pursuit. But Jorginho’s potential return to Napoli would have to wait until the summer, though the parties could agree on terms in January.
However, not everything would go according to plan unless Napoli step up their pursuit of the deep-lying midfielder. Barcelona have been on a shopping spree since the summer, and they seem ready to make Jorginho their latest signing.
While Xavi Hernandez continues to rely on Pedri and Gavi, the Catalan giants need experience in their relatively juvenile midfield line-up. Ex-Milan star Franck Kessie failed to live up to the billing, forcing the Spaniards to scour the market for a new midfielder.
Jorginho’s contractual wobble makes him a perfect target, so Napoli would be better off concretizing their interest sooner rather than later.