Barcelona aiming to repeat Christensen trick with another Chelsea star
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 18 Sept 2022 20:45 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona have shown a knack for being able to attract some of the best free agents in the world to their club in recent seasons, and according to a report, they are ready to make a play for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho.
The Blues have found themselves pillaged in recent times when it comes to losing players on free transfers, with Andreas Christensen heading to Barca this summer and fellow centre-back Antonio Rudiger bound for Real Madrid.
Now they face the prospect of losing the Italy international midfielder next summer, when his deal is up.
Given that Barcelona are in the midst of a project to renew their side for the long-term, it might be surprising to see them linked with a move to a player who will be 31 at the end of the season.
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Why Jorginho to Barcelona makes sense
There are a couple of pertinent reasons why Barcelona might be interest in such a player, though. Perhaps most important of these is that he is still regarded as one of the best deep lying playmakers in the world.
Secondly, Barcelona could actually use someone of his age profile. At 34, this could be Sergio Busquets’ final year as an effective first-team performer and there are no other experienced figures in the centre of midfield, particularly if Frenkie de Jong moves on.
Franck Kessie is 25 but is relatively inexperienced at the very top level of the game – the closing stages of major European competitions, for example – while Gavi and Pedri are still teenagers.
Jorginho would not only help replace Busquets for a couple of years at least, but he could shoulder some of the leadership responsibilities the veteran gives the club.
Chelsea, meanwhile, may well be in a transition phase of their own by next summer, with doubts over the long-term future over both Jorginho and N’Golo Kante. This is a deal that should certainly not be discounted.
