With Fabrizio Romano slapping his signature ‘here we go’ catchphrase on to the Jorginho to Arsenal transfer rumours, it’s fair to assume that the deal is all but confirmed. However, in our, view, Mikel Arteta’s side should have signed 3 players instead of the Chelsea midfielder.
Considering the club’s aim seemed to be geared towards bringing in an understudy to the injury-prone, yet irreplaceable Thomas Partey, signing one of the most unathletic midfielders in the Premier League at 31 years of age does not qualify as smart business.
Also, the Italian has been continually declining since winning the Champions League in 2021, especially without a more defensive presence such as N’Golo Kante to assist him in midfield, which makes the move borderline nonsensical.
Bearing that in mind, we have suggested 3 players Arsenal should have signed on deadline day instead of the Gunners-bound Jorginho.
3 players Arsenal should have signed instead of Jorginho
1. Arsenal could have hit 2 birds with one stone by signing Lavia
For one, Romeo Lavia is perhaps one of the most talented young defensive midfielders in Europe, which would have made him a supreme signing.
Much like Jorginho, Lavia has an expansive range of passing, whilst also having the ability to break the lines from tight spaces, which would have made him the perfect No.6 for Arsenal.
But furthermore, Mikel Arteta’s side could have added yet another transfer regret to Man City’s list by luring the Belgian into a move.
While City have a buy-back clause in place, the decision ultimately lies on the player to choose his next destination and considering the 19-year-old would have likelier to get game time at the Emirates, he may well have accepted a move.
Plus, Southampton are 20th in the Premier League table, which would have made it relatively easy for Arsenal to bully them into a sale, which begs the question why they chose to sign Jorginho instead?
2. Zubimendi would have been the ideal Jorginho upgrade for Arsenal
Well, the Gunners have increasingly been linked with a switch for Martin Zubimendi, despite him signing a contract extension till 2027 just last year.
Much like Jorginho, the Spaniard is a deep-lying playmaker, which would have made him the ideal type of profile for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal to sign.
While persuading Real Sociedad to let Zubimendi leave in January would have been a challenge, the Times did report that if any potential suitor did decide to pay his £52.7 million release clause, the club would have considered a sale.
And considering the league leaders launched a £70 million bid for Moises Caicedo (GOAL), who has made a mere 29 Premier League appearances, splashing the cash for a much more established player would have made a lot more sense.
Especially considering Zubimendi could have brought a defensive steel to Arsenal, alongside the passing range that Jorginho is renowned for.
3. McKennie rounds up the 3 players that would have made for better signings than Jorginho
Of course, Weston McKennie has officially signed for Leeds United on loan.
But with the Gunners sitting pretty at the summit of the English top-flight, which would have tempted the USA international to join the club in January.
Considering Arsenal were heavily linked with Weston McKennie at one point, it is hard to understand why they let him join Jesse Marsch’s side and settled for Jorginho instead.
Much like Partey, McKennie is a hybrid of a box-to-box midfielder as well as a traditional No.6.
Considering the Juventus star joined Leeds on loan instead and has so much to offer, as was on show at the World Cup, Edu and Arsenal would have had pulled off another transfer masterstroke by signing him instead of a declining Jorginho.
That rounds up our list of 3 players Arsenal could and perhaps should have signed instead of Jorginho.
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