Arsenal could secure a £50 million transfer to bring in Jorginho’s ideal teammate, which would enable Declan Rice to play at his best.
Last season, Mikel Arteta used the available resources to give Declan Rice more freedom in Arsenal’s midfield after the new year.
Initially, Rice started only six games with Jorginho in the first half of the season. However, this number nearly doubled in 2024, as both players frequently played behind Martin Odegaard. This setup allowed Rice to play a freer role, similar to his position at West Ham United.
With Mohamed Elneny leaving soon and Thomas Partey likely to follow, Arteta cannot rely on the same midfield trio for another season. Injuries last season highlighted the need for more depth beyond Rice and Jorginho.
Conor Gallagher is familiar with both players from their time together at the club and international level. He and Jorginho played 18 matches together in the first half of the 2022/23 season before Jorginho transferred to Arsenal from Chelsea.
Gallagher also spent the summer with Rice in Germany during the European Championship. He replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s first two matches, improving midfield balance. This performance might earn him a starting spot alongside Rice for the final group game against Slovenia, marking their first start together since a friendly against Brazil in March.
Gallagher’s energetic style would benefit Arsenal’s midfield when paired with Jorginho. Jorginho struggles without athletic support, as shown in Italy’s match against Spain. Gallagher’s energy could help transition Arsenal to a more dynamic midfield behind Odegaard, potentially moving on from Jorginho in the future.