Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Spanish giants made to wait as Chelsea star reveals key reason future plans still fluid

Christian Pulisic, Jorginho, Chelsea, October 2022

Midfielder Jorginho has made it clear he wants to remain at Chelsea despite being able to open dialogue with foreign clubs in January.

The 31-year-old has been at Stamford Bridge since July 2018 when the Blues paid Napoli around £50m for his signature. He inked a five-year deal that summer which has not been renewed in the subsequent seasons. The Italy international will therefore fall out of contract in the summer and is free to join another club.

Pre-contract deals can be penned in January with foreign clubs and Jorginho has been linked with Barcelona.

His agent, Joao Santos, was spotted in Barcelona earlier this year but denied it was for talks about the schemer.

However, Spanish newspaper Sport reported that talks had been held over a potential summer switch.

In a further twist, journalist Ben Jacobs reported earlier this month that Jorginho wants to remain in west London.

He cited Graham Potter’s influence as the reason for the Brazilian-born ace’s change of heart. And now the player himself backed up those claims when speaking to talkSPORT.

“Of course I do (want to stay), I love Chelsea,” he said. “But this is a thing I’m not going to think about now.

“I need to think about winning games. Otherwise, it’s a problem.”

However, the former Hellas Verona star did leave the way open for a move if the right offer presented itself.

“I’ll focus game-by-game and then well see,” he added. “My mind is on Chelsea now and trying to win as many games as possible.”

Jorginho on board with Chelsea mission

Jorginho has seen plenty of action at the Bridge, making 207 appearances in all competitions.

He has bagged 29 goals and lifted the Champions League trophy in 2020-2021. The man with 46 Azzurri caps has started 11 top-flight games this term.

But he has not been at his best, with Chelsea languishing in eighth place after an indifferent start to the season.

Potter has work to do when the league restarts following the World Cup break.

And Jorginho is convinced that the ex-Brighton chief is the right man to turn things around.

“I think he’s doing a really good job and now it’s just time for the results to come our way,” he added.

“I really do [like working with him]. Him and his staff, they are really nice guys and they work hard.

“What they really want is to win games, and for the people they are, they really deserve it. So I will try my best to help them to do it.”

Jorginho’s words will be a boost to those who want him to pen a fresh deal at the club.

Jacobs report added that Chelsea will offer him ‘a competitive new deal’.

But whether or not it meets the playmaker’s demands only time will tell. He is said to earn in the region of £105,000-a-week after tax.

And Sport suggested that he will ask for a net salary of £230,000-per-week when negotiations begin.

That may be a bit steep for a player the wrong side of 30. However, he is clearly happy wearing blue and wants to be part of a successful Chelsea side.

READ MORE: Door swings wide open for Tottenham, Chelsea in chase for World Cup superstar as big hitter rules out move