Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal head to Brighton on Saturday (Image: Getty)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that Jorginho and Thomas Partey could strike agreements to leave the club this month.
The pair both have left than six months to run on their deals, which has opened up the chance to discuss a pre-contract proposal with overseas clubs as a precursor to a free transfer in the summer.
When asked whether their futures could be decided before the January transfer window shuts, Arteta said in his press conference on Friday: “That’s a possibility. It’s close communication with them, what their idea is, what they want to do, and what are their intentions.”
At 31 and 33 years old respectively, Partey and Jorginho are both big earners on the wage bill. The Gunners have reportedly been eyeing up younger midfielders to replace the pair, including Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham and Sevilla’s Lucien Agoume.
With senior figures at the Emirates Stadium putting plans in place to fulfil the club’s long-term vision, Arteta also needs a short-term solution to the absence of his attacking talisman, .
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