Jorginho is keen to sign a new contract with Chelsea despite suggestions that Barcelona are interested in bringing him to Camp Nou next summer, according to his agent.
The 30-year-old’s deal at Stamford Bridge is due to expire in June 2023, meaning that, as it stands, he would be free to hold talks with foreign clubs at the turn of the year.
Joao Santos, who represents Jorginho, has said that his client’s priority is to “negotiate with Chelsea”, but he hinted that there has been talks with other clubs over the Italy international’s future.
“His contract is expiring in June but our priority is to negotiate with Chelsea, so we are on it. Barcelona? Maybe I spoke about him or maybe about other players… I was there as also in Madrid, Lyon, Valencia – it’s my job,” Santos told TuttoMercatoWeb.
Barcelona are expected to be in the market for a new central midfielder next summer, as Sergio Busquets prepares to leave the club on a free transfer.
Jorginho’s Chelsea teammate N’Golo Kante, Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan and Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans are also allegedly being considered due to their contract situations.
The Blues have reportedly decided against handing a new contract to Kante due to the France international’s recent injury problems.
Jorginho, though, has again been an important player for the London club during the 2022-23 campaign, featuring on 12 occasions in all competitions, scoring two goals in the process.
The Italian played the full 90 minutes against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League last weekend before again playing the full game against AC Milan in the Champions League earlier this week, finding the back of the net from the penalty spot in Chelsea’s 2-0 win.
The midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge from Napoli in July 2018, and he has represented the club on 200 occasions, scoring 28 goals and contributing nine assists.
As well as Kante and Jorginho, Thiago Silva is also out of contract at Chelsea next June, and it is unclear whether the 38-year-old will be signing another short-term deal with the club.
New head coach Graham Potter has allegedly made Hakim Ziyech surplus to requirements at the club, with the Morocco international said to be free to seek pastures new in January.
Meanwhile, it has been claimed that the Premier League side want to end Denis Zakaria’s loan deal from Juventus in January, with the 25-year-old yet to make a single appearance since his arrival.
Chelsea will be bidding to make it five victories in a row in all competitions when they travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
