Chelsea try to hi-jack Manchester City’s move for Serie A star
Chelsea are attempting to hi-jack Manchester City’s move for Napoli star Jorginho, reports television channel Sportitalia, via Football Italia.
City have been locked in talks with Napoli for the signing of Jorginho since the end of last season but are struggling to get a move over the line.
Pep Guardiola wants deals for Jorginho and Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez done before pre-season training starts on Monday but that looks increasingly unlikely.
The Premier League champions are closing in on a €55m transfer for Jorginho but now Chelsea are reportedly ready to pay €5m more than their rivals to sign the midfielder.
Chelsea are in talks with Napoli to make Maurizio Sarri their new manager and believe by agreeing to pay more for Jorginho it will convince the Serie A side to let Sarri move for nothing.
Jorginho has emerged as one of the best midfielders in Europe in the last two years and if Chelsea are successful in hi-jacking City’s move for the 26-year-old it would be a huge blow to City.
Guardiola has already missed out on signing Alexis Sanchez and Fred to Manchester United in the last six months and City’s failure to land another top transfer target would not go down well with the Spaniard.
No player won possession in the middle third more times than Jorginho in Serie A last season (173), while the 26-year-old also averaged the most passes per game in the division (96.9).
Napoli did well enough in Serie A to wish to retain its players rather than sell them. Obstructing Sarri completing a move to Chelsea obstructs Sarri convincing any Napoli player to come with him. Napoli may have no interest in selling Jorginho. A higher bid from Chelsea for him may have no effect in this scenario.