Jorginho looks set to snub Manchester City for Chelsea according to his mother’s Instagram activity.
When Napoli faced Manchester City in December, a number of players left an impression on Guardiola but none more than Jorginho. Just from that one game, Guardiola knew he had to bring the playmaker to the Etihad and set out to do that as quickly as possible when the transfer window opened.
But Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis is a very hard man to negotiate with. He always wants the highest fee for his players and will drag out transfers as long as possible to get what he wants. And he usually does.
Weren’t it for De Laurentiis, I’m almost certain the Jorginho deal would have been done and dusted. But once again, it looks like he is going to get what he wants. Chelsea are reported to have entered a late bid of £53million for Jorginho, a fee higher than Manchester City are willing to play according to Tuttosport.
The rumors have gained more traction as Jorginho’s mother has started following the London club but not Manchester City, a hint about the direction that the player might be taking.
Manchester City are unwilling to enter a bidding war for Jorginho and will look to pursue other transfer targets including Mateo Kovacic and Juventus’s Pjanic. Not what De Laurentiis wanted but he will get a higher transfer fee for his player, a win for him.
Elsewhere, Southampton have reached a deal with Manchester City for England U-21 goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
Angus Gunn had just recently returned from a loan deal at Norwich City where he played in all of their league games. But he is behind the brilliant Ederson and veteran Claudio Bravo in the pecking order with very little chance of breaking into the first team.
A move away from the Etihad might be his only way of progressing his career and continue his development as a player.
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It speaks volumes of his ability that a Premier League level club would want to acquire his services given that they already have Fraser Forster and Alex McCarthy already at their disposal, who are both good goalkeepers.
Hopefully he grows into a great goalkeeper and returns to the Etihad one day.