Arsenal star to reject UCL side and survive Arteta overhaul, with unlucky pair to be axed instead

The one survivor from Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in an upcoming midfield overhaul at Arsenal has been confirmed by a report.

Despite running Man City close in the Premier League last season, Mikel Arteta is not content to rest on his laurels.

Quite the opposite, in fact, with the Spaniard determined to overhaul his midfield ranks despite those at his disposal performing well last season.

Indeed, Granit Xhaka was a revelation in more of a box-to-box role, while a sub-par final few months should not detract from how dominant Thomas Partey was for the vast bulk of the campaign.

Jorginho, meanwhile, was a mid-season addition from Chelsea. While the Italy international was used sparingly, he did add class and quality to the engine room when required.

But with a third bid for Declan Rice on the horizon and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia wanted too, midfield casualties are inevitable.

Jorginho, 31, is understood to have significant interest from Serie A side Lazio who after finishing second last term, will return to the Champions League next year.

Lazio are managed by Maurizio Sarri who was the manager that brought Jorginho to Chelsea back in 2018.

However, according to the Evening Standard, Jorginho will rebuff Lazio and remain at Arsenal beyond the summer – unlike Xhaka and Partey.

Jorginho staying; Xhaka, Partey leaving

The Standard state Jorginho will snub Lazio which will suit Arsenal down to the ground. Indeed, it’s claimed ‘Arsenal are looking to offload Thomas Partey instead of Jorginho’.

Partey has offers to join the burgeoning Saudi Pro League, with Fabrizio Romano claiming a deal worth €40m over three instalments is in play.

However, Partey prefers to remain in Europe and may find an escape route to Juventus. Gianluca Di Marzio reported Partey has ‘given the go-ahead’ to Juve, though the Italian giant will only pounce if Adrien Rabiot leaves as a free agent.

Rabiot’s current contract expires on June 30 and per FootMercato, the Frenchman recently rejected another offer to stay in Turin.

Xhaka, meanwhile, has already agreed personal terms on a £13m switch to return to Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.

A four-year contract has been agreed and Xhaka’s move will be signed off once Arsenal get a replacement through the door.

At present, Rice and Lavia are in their sights, though Moises Caicedo remains a viable – albeit expensive – option.

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