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Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is reportedly after at least £150k per week to commit himself to a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
The Italy international is currently due to become a free agent at the end of the season, leading to continued uncertainty surrounding his long-term future.
Jorginho and his representatives are in discussions with the Blues over a new contract, as the 30-year-old is still tied to the terms he signed upon his arrival in 2018.
Negotiations are still thought to be at an early stage, but the midfielder’s agent Joao Santos has affirmed that the pair’s priority is to strike an agreement on a new deal with Chelsea.
“We are due in June. We prioritise Chelsea and we are moving towards it. Another priority for Jorginho is to do well with the national team,” Santos told Tuttomercatoweb.
Barcelona are reported to have taken an interest in Jorginho, and while Santos has claimed that he might have discussed the 30-year-old with other clubs, he has insisted that travelling to various parts of the world is simply his job.
“I work in football, I have been to Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, but also in other parts such as Lyon. I’m Jorginho’s agent, I may have talked about him but also about others,” Santos added.
Now, a report from the Evening Standard claims that Chelsea and Jorginho have not been able to find common ground in negotiations yet, and the midfielder’s pay packet is the roadblock.
The report claims that Chelsea want to keep Jorginho on a wage similar to his current £120,000-a-week deal, but the Italian has asked for more.
Jorginho supposedly wants to earn as much as £150,000 per week at Stamford Bridge, which would take him level with Cesar Azpilicueta, who extended his Chelsea contract earlier this year.
While Jorginho’s first option is to remain at Chelsea, the ex-Napoli man is in search of a deal that would reflect his importance and standing as a senior member of the squad.
The midfielder has scored twice in 13 appearances for Graham Potter’s side in the 2022-23 season, taking his total for the club to 28 goals and nine assists in 201 appearances since 2018.
Jorginho was only brought on for the final 25 minutes of Sunday’s win over Aston Villa, but he will endeavour to come back into the first XI for Wednesday’s trip to Brentford.
Jorginho is not the only Chelsea midfielder who could leave on a free in 2023, as N’Golo Kante has also entered the final year of his contract with the West London club.
The Blues are also in talks with the Frenchman about a contract extension, but negotiations are believed to have stalled over the length of any new deal.
