'Door is open': Arsenal £12m midfielder hints at exit from Emirates Stadium

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has sent a transfer bombshell admission the way of Brazilian outfit Flamengo amid rumours of a potential transfer move from London.

The 33-year-old is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium this summer and is yet to agree a new deal to prolong his time in North London. Joringho signed for the Gunners in 2023 after five years with Chelsea, Arsenal paying £12 million to recruit the player from their London rivals.

The midfielder has made 19 appearances across all competitions so far this term under Mikel Arteta but has somewhat fallen out of favour. Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino have all been preferred in the central midfield roles.

Flamengo target Arsenal midfielder

The Italy international, who won the Champions League and Europa League while at Chelsea, last started a match in the 1-1 draw with Brighton earlier this month. Reports this week suggested that Flamengo were looking at a deal to recruit the player, who can sign a pre-contract agreement with a side ahead of his contract's expiry this summer.

Joringho has now spoken out about those transfer rumours, dropping an enticing hit to the Brazilian club. He said: "My contract is until June and my goal now is to think about the next game, which is in three days. There's not much to think about, you know? Things happen very quickly in football, things can happen overnight, but my mind is on the next game.”

When pressed on a potential switch to Brazil, he added: "It's a possibility, yes, in the future, it's a possibility. So this door is also open, obviously. Keep all the doors open and calmly decide what to do in the future."

Mikel Arteta praise for ‘quality’ Jorginho

Despite struggling for regular minutes, Jorginho has maintained the backing of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Speaking in December, the Spaniard was full of praise for the midfielder's ability to always be 'ready' when called upon.

Arteta said: "That is his quality. I always mention his biggest quality is his capacity to make others better. Last season was the same.

"At the start, there was less games, we don't play that many midweek matches and he had less minutes. But I told him to be ready because there is going to be a time, and it is not going to be in one week you have to play, you are going to play now or tomorrow. The way he prepares is top so when he needs to play he is ready."

Jorginho has been playing top flight football since breaking through at Hellas Verona in 2010 and is preparing in the background for the next stage of his career. The Arsenal man is undertaking his coaching badges and has been tipped for success in management by Arteta.

He said: "When I first saw him at Napoli I knew there was a [future] coach here for sure. He has got that will. He has been doing badges now for some time with the other players and I'm sure he will prepare and he will be very good."