Arsenal 'reject' winter bid for midfielder as talks held over summer transfer agreement

Arsenal will be keen to strengthen their squad on transfer deadline day as they aim to keep pace with Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners won 5-1 against rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon with a superb performance at the Emirates. It leaves them six points behind Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

Mikel Arteta won’t want any of his players to leave at the end of the January transfer window as he’ll be keen to head into the back end of the season with as much squad depth as possible.

Arsenal reject bid for Jorginho

According to new reports, Arsenal have rejected a bid for midfielder Jorginho from Brazilian side Flamengo. Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X that the Flamengo board met with Arsenal, who quickly rejected a move for the midfielder.

Jorginho’s contract expires at the end of the season at Arsenal after a spell of two years at the club. He joined from Chelsea for a fee of £9.4m in 2023, and has since made 72 appearances for the Blues, scoring 29 goals and eight assists. He hinted at a summer exit to Brazil earlier in January.

The Italy international could see a summer move as Flamengo are said to be chasing a pre-contract agreement which would confirm the midfielder’s move to Brazil after his contract at the Emirates expires in the summer. His contract does include an option for Arsenal to extend it by one more year, but they are not expected to make that move.

Jorginho has become a valuable squad depth player for the Gunners this season, making just 10 Premier League appearances. However, he has made 10 appearances in other competitions for Arteta this year.

Arsenal midfield duo set to leave in summer

Jorginho isn’t the only Arsenal player that looks set to be leaving the Emirates during the summer transfer window, as Thomas Partey’s contract is also set to expire.

Partey signed for the Gunners from La Liga side Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a fee of £42m. He has been more of a regular for Arteta this season compared to Jorginho, making 35 appearances in all competitions.

The Ghanaian scored during their win against Manchester City on Sunday, immediately after Erling Haaland scored City’s equaliser. Partey’s goal allowed the Gunners to run away from Pep Guardiola’s side.

The defensive midfielder does not have a one-year option in his contract, so he is expected to leave the Emirates in the summer after a five-year spell with the Gunners.

No reports have emerged suggesting that Arsenal will offer a contract extension for the 31-year-old, and with the imminent signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the summer, Arsenal have their replacement for Partey in the wings.

Zubimendi’s £51m release clause was reportedly paid by the Gunners earlier in the January transfer window, with a view to bringing in the Spain international in the summer.