Chelsea went on a spending spree this summer.
Frank Lampard’s side made a number of huge signings as they look to compete with the top two of Liverpool and Manchester City.
Two of the best Bundesliga players of the past few seasons, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, both arrived in west London, along with Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Edouard Mendy, Malang Sarr, and Thiago Silva.
The signings, per Transfermarkt, cost a grand total of £222.4m and necessitated that a few first-team players make way for the new blood.
Alvaro Morata departed for Atletico Madrid, while Tiemoue Bakayoko, Davide Zappacosta, Pedro and Willian all left permanently. The likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Victor Moses, Ross Barkley, and Michy Batshuayi all headed away on loan.
One potential exit was Jorginho but the midfielder did not find himself a new club.
The Italy international was linked with a move to Arsenal in the transfer window, where he could have linked up with Willian, but the deal did not come off.
He has now confirmed, though, that the two clubs were in talks and that he was open to the possibility of moving to another London club.
He told ESPN: “I believe that every player is open to negotiations.
“So I believe there was something they talked about. And in the end it was decided, chosen that I stay here.
“And now my head is here and we’re going to do a great job with Chelsea, which I always wanted to do.”
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
It would have been rather harsh to let Jorginho go.
He made 44 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring seven goals and registering two assists, and has already emerged as a key player this term.
Lampard even handed him the captain’s armband for the opening two games of the season, against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.
He has already scored three goals this season, including a brace against Crystal Palace.
Jorginho is also approaching at his peak – he will be 29 in December – and he has plenty to offer.
Giving him the chance to prove it makes all the sense in the world, and looks set to pay off for the Blues in the long run.