Jorginho’s agent speaks out on Arsenal future and responds to Lazio rumours

Jorginho only moved to the Emirates from Chelsea less than five months ago, arriving in a £12million deal shortly after Mohamed Elneny picked up a season-ending knee injury.

The 31-year-old, who signed a one-and-a-half-year contract, made 14 appearances for the Gunners in the second half of the campaign – nine as a starter – and helped keep them in the hunt for the Premier League title until a late collapse.

But, with just a year left on his deal now, there had been suggestions Jorginho could be offloaded this summer and old boss Maurizio Sarri is believed to be keen on a reunion at Lazio.

The Italy international is likely to have a greatly reduced role next season, with the Gunners working to bring in Declan Rice, Romeo Lavia and Kai Havertz to bolster their midfield options.

Now Jorginho’s agent, Joao Santos, has spoken out on the speculation surrounding his client and insists the midfielder is very happy playing under Mikel Arteta and will continue at the club.

Asked about the likelihood of Jorginho leaving Arsenal this summer, Santos told Italy’s TV Play: ‘Jorginho is very happy with Arsenal who have a very important championship to play, at the beginning of August there is the Community Shield.

‘There is no negotiation with Lazio. I don’t know if they have the money to pay the player, but that’s not the question.’

He added: ‘He stays really well at Arsenal and in our mind, for the next season, there is only the Gunners.’

Santos continued: ‘The theme is clear: the project for next year is to stay at Arsenal which can become the most important team in England.

‘Coach Arteta is the most important in the Premier League, he understands modern football like no-one else and, obviously, someone like Jorginho goes very well with someone like him.’

Arsenal are believed to have received offers from Italian clubs and Saudi Arabia for Thomas Partey, with the Ghanaian increasingly likely to leave if the Gunners can fend off interest from Manchester City to land Rice.

Granit Xhaka has a long-standing agreement to move to Bayer Leverkusen and the imminent, £65million arrival of Havertz could see the Switzerland international finally secure his return to Germany.

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