Darren Bent believes Arsenal transfer is ‘best bargain’ in Premier League

Follow us on Google Discover

Darren Bent believes Arsenal signed the bargain of the January transfer window with their move for Chelsea star Jorginho. He also feels the Italy ace is just who Mikel Arteta needed.

Arsenal raided their London rivals to sign Jorginho on deadline day this Tuesday for £12m. The midfielder has headed across the capital on a contract until June 2024 with the option for another 12 months. He was set to be a free agent at the Blues at the end of the season.

Chelsea received an initial £10m for the 31-year-old’s services with the Gunners owing £2m in potential future add-ons. The Stamford Bridge natives were happy with Arsenal’s bid to receive a fee for a player otherwise leaving soon and who cost £50m, up to £57m, in 2018.

Jorginho moved to the Premier League from Serie A side Napoli during Maurizio Sarri’s run in charge of Chelsea. The 46-cap Italy midfielder went on to win the Europa League title in his first season in west London. The Blues edged Arsenal under Unai Emery 4-1 in the final.

Chelsea also won a Champions League title with Jorginho in 2020/21 before he helped Italy win Euro 2020. UEFA then hailed the Imbituba, Brazil-born technician as its Men’s Player of the Year. He beat Kevin De Bruyne and N’Golo Kante to the award for the 2020/21 season.

Bent believes Arsenal signed the bargain of the transfer window with Jorginho

Jorginho will now provide Arteta with experience and depth as Arsenal target the Premier League title following his transfer from Chelsea. The Spaniard has a lack of options in their midfield with Mohamed Elneny to miss the rest of the term after surgery on a knee injury.

Arteta also let Albert Sambi Lokonga join Crystal Palace on loan late on deadline day after signing Jorginho. The Italian will now provide cover for Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka as the Gunners’ deep-lying options. Lokonga had only started in two of his six league outings.

So, given the need Arteta had for the transfer of a midfielder, Bent believes Arsenal struck a real bargain by landing Jorginho from Chelsea. He will now supplement Partey and Xhaka as the Gunners strive to maintain a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Bent told talkSPORT: “For someone who is that experienced, what Arsenal needed [and] a proven winner [for] £12m? I’d go for him for [the] best bargain.”