Renowned journalist Craig Hope has revealed that before Jorginho’s £10 million deadline-day transfer to Arsenal in last month, Newcastle United were given the opportunity to sign the former Chelsea midfielder. The reporter further adds that several club employees at Tyneside supported a potential trade for the Italian midfielder, but a move didn’t materialise and the 31-year-old rather chose to remain in London, however with the Gunners.
It was both a shock and surprise for Chelsea supporters when Jorginho moved out of the club to join Arsenal. Although there might be some reservations that he was sold to their direct rival, Jorginho’s potential transfer to Newcastle would have caused more uproar since the Magpies are a bigger threat to the Blues at the moment than the Gunners. Chelsea are sat ninth in the Premier League, as they fight the likes of Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham who are placed above them for a top-four finish.
Eddie Howe blocked Newcastle from moving for Jorginho
Both Arsenal and Newcastle United have set new and higher objectives this season, as while the Gunners find themselves in a title race, the Magpies are fighting for a Champions League finish. As a result, the two clubs needed dire reinforcements to achieve their aims and strengthening the midfield was their priority. Jorginho was put on the market by Chelsea as soon as they knew that they had wrapped a British record deal for Benfica starlet Enzo Fernandez.
The Blues agreed a club and British record £106 deal for Fernandez, who arrived alongside the likes of Mykhaylo Mudryk (£88m), Noni Madueke (£31m) and Joao Felix (£11m loan fee) amongst many other signings. As a result, Chelsea had to ship out some, and Jorginho was the one. Newcastle were apparently keen on signing the veteran midfielder, only for their manager Eddie Howe who is said to be the reason the Magpies declined the offer.
Speaking on the True Faith podcast, Craig Hope said:
“Jorginho was offered to them, again, by intermediaries. Now, there were people within the club who I think were for the Jorginho deal – they saw the sense in it. I don’t think Eddie was. Just didn’t think he had the legs to get around in terms of that sort of high-energy pressing style he wants from his midfielders.”
While Jorginho brings a wealth of Premier League expertise with him, it is true to some extent that he wouldn’t have been a fit for Howe’s high-pressing system at St. James’ Park. The Italian midfielder has 144 Premier League outings for Chelsea in England. On February 4, he made his Gunners debut in a 1-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park. Starting the game on the bench on the sidelines, the Italian entered the game just before the hour mark.
Just after Jorginho was brought in, Everton’s James Tarkowski opened the scoring for the Toffees, which ultimately proved to be the winner. Despite the 1-0 loss to the Merseyside team, Mikel Arteta’s team has had an amazing 2022–23 Premier League campaign overall. With a game in hand and a five-point advantage over Manchester City, the north Londoners continue to hold a grip on the top spot in the league.
Meanwhile, Graham Potter is attempting to integrate his Chelsea squad at Cobham that welcomed eight new players in the January transfer window alone, as the Blues continue to struggle in the Premier League. With only eight victories from 21 games this season, the Blues sit ninth in the league, and face a real prospect of missing out on a top four finish, and subsequently the Champions League next season.