Arsenal make decision on winter transfer for Jorginho | OneFootball

Arsenal have reportedly stopped Jorginho from joining Brazilian outfit Flamengo in the winter window, but are consigned to losing the veteran midfielder this summer.

The 33-year-old schemer has been angling for a move away from north London this year in search of more first-team minutes. Mikel Arteta has handed Jorginho 20 appearances across all competitions this season, but he has only started six Premier League games - fewer than right-back Ben White who has been injured for the past three months.

The Brazil-born Italy international has been heavily linked with a return to his home country this year. Fabrizio Romano reports that Flamengo, the reigning Copa do Brasil champions who finished third in last season's domestic top flight, met with Arsenal to discuss a January transfer but were bluntly rebuffed.

Flamengo had proposed bringing the Champions League winner to Rio de Janeiro for free. Jorginho's existing deal at Arsenal expires in six months and the former Chelsea midfielder has begun negotiating a pre-contract agreement Flamengo ahead of a free transfer this summer, per Gianluca Di Marzio.

Jorginho scored in Arsenal's most recent Champions League fixture / Marco Canoniero/GettyImages

There is still a chance that Jorginho could be on his way to Rio before Monday's deadline, but only in the event that Arsenal secure a replacement defensive midfielder - which is highly unlikely.

The Gunners have instead focused their efforts on attacking reinforcements. There have been multiple bids for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and Evan Ferguson was considered as a short-term fix before he sealed his move to West Ham United.

Arsenal are still interested in Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel, who has already laid firm foundation for a successful stint at the Emirates by rejecting Tottenham Hotspur, but face competition from Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

While it remains to be seen how many - if any - new faces Arsenal can secure in this window, it appears likely they won't be waving goodbye to Jorginho just yet.