Jorginho has a little over two years left on his contract and will be turning 30 later this year, which makes the upcoming off-season a most crucial point in his career, and especially his Chelsea career. Given our usual contractual policies, it will be his last chance for a long-term extension at the club. At the same time, if that extension were to not happen, this summer would thus also be the most ideal time in terms of maximizing his transfer value for the club to move him on.
It is perhaps with that inflection point in mind that his agent has been keeping the seat warm on a potential Serie A return (Juventus, Napoli, or whoever Sarri might be managing next), while also talking up his client’s chances of staying at Stamford Bridge, where he’s certainly well compensated even if he’s not universally adored. (Jorginho himself obviously isn’t ruling out anything either.)
Mister agent was at it again yesterday, with several familiar, well-worn lines.
“Jorginho would like to come back to Italy, and there is the desire to play in Serie A. If Napoli should need Jorginho, then it could happen.
“He still has two years left on his contract at Chelsea. As things stand today, his price-tag is €50m and he has quite high wages in London. It’s unlikely that (Napoli President Aurelio) De Laurentiis would spend so much. Besides, in my view, Marina Granovskaia and Chelsea will offer him a contract renewal over the next few months.”
-João Santos; source: Mail
The bit about the supposed asking price or Granovskaia’s intention to offer an extension are new claims however, especially in such clear-cut and bold — and rather optimistic — terms. Then again, Jorginho seems to be more in favor with Tuchel than he had been towards the end with Lampard, so perhaps the agent isn’t being optimistic without reason.
(This is the part where you’d hope that we continue building the team to a longer, more overarching vision rather than trying to satisfy the whims of every new manager, none of whom tend to last more than a season or two, at best.)