Chelsea are doing the right thing by offering Jorginho a contract extension at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Lowdown: Jorginho’s contract
The Italian midfielder’s current contract with the Blues expires in the summer, but the club are in talks with the player’s representatives over a new deal to keep him in West London.
Jorginho signed for the Blues in 2018 for £50m and has gone onto play 204 games in all competitions, winning the Champions League and UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2021 whilst in England, captaining the side six times this season.
The Latest: Financial side key
Romano stated that the sticking point of a new deal could be the financial incentive to persuade the 30-year-old to remain in SW6.
“Chelsea are in contact with Jorginho’s agent, he loves the club and London but it will depend on the financial discussion.
“I think it would be smart for Chelsea to keep at least one of Jorginho and Kante – they have quality, experience, and they can still help the team and make a valuable contribution,” he shared via CaughtOffside.
The Verdict: Only within reason
Just as Romano said, it would be a wise move from the Blues’ hierarchy, including owner Todd Boehly, to extend the stay of one of their midfielders, due to their experience in the side, with the 46-time Italian international seemingly the more attractive option.
Kante has suffered greatly with injuries since the start of last season, where he’s missed 32 games so far with injury, whilst he’s expected to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing an operation on his hamstring injury two weeks ago.
The growing injury concerns in addition to his current £290k-per-week wages, make Jorginho the more desirable option, the former Napoli man has missed just two games with injury since his move to Stamford Bridge.
Although the Blues shouldn’t be held to ransom when tying the Brazilian-born ace down to a new deal, with a previous report by the Evening Standard, claiming the European Championship winner is looking at a hike on his current £120k-per-week deal.
Potentially losing both midfielders could be a worrying prospect for Chelsea, however, it would leave the door open for Todd Boehly to once again spend big in the coming windows and mark the new era at the Bridge.
