Declan Rice "surprised" by Arsenal teammate as Barcelona swoop to make signing
Barcelona are weighing up a move for out-of-favour Arsenal midfielder Jorginho – after Declan Rice claimed the Italian had surprised him ‘so much’ in Gunners training.
Both midfielders joined the north London club this year; Jorginho arrived in Mikel Arteta's squad in January from Chelsea while Rice became Arsenal's club record signing this summer after ending his long association with West Ham.
Jorginho has played only a bit-part role in Arteta’s side since his transfer, initially as an understudy to Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey in the line-up while he is now behind Rice in the pecking order. The midfielder has started just one Premier League campaign to date this campaign.
Jorginho, 31, has been added to Barcelona's transfer shortlist for a new deep-lying midfielder. That is according to ESPN, who outline that the Blaugrana want to bolster their midfield following the exits of Sergio Busquets and Franck Kessie this summer.
Oriol Romeu was signed from Girona but boss Xavi is keen to add another midfield player, with Jorginho among those being monitored. Bayern Munich's versatile midfielder Joshua Kimmich is also on their radar, along with Liverpool's Thiago Alcantara and Guido Rodriguez of Real Betis.
Jorginho may not have made a notable impact in Arsenal's games but on the training pitch, he is the player who has leapt out to England international Rice. The former Hammers captain has spoken about how much he has learned from the Brazilian-born star since his switch to the Emirates.
Rice, who was speaking to Joe Cole for Channel 4, has said: “The one who surprised me so much, not surprised because I knew he was such a good player anyway. Playing with him every day in training and seeing how he is because he’s not the
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