Arsenal in contract negotiations with Jorginho, opening with an offer of a new two-year deal for the midfielder.

Arsenal’s Jorginho is technically out of contract this summer, though the Gunners hold an option to extend his deal by one year.

Rather than simply activating that option, Mark Mann-Bryans reported last month that Arsenal were set to open contract negotiations with Jorginho, offering a new one-year deal with an option for a second.

If Jorginho accepted, his new contract would take him to 2025, with a club option to extend to 2026.

Given Arsenal are only opened negotiations recently, you wouldn’t expect an immediate conclusion to the process, but it’s good to hear that the two parties are working on it.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Arsenal’s option to extend Jorginho’s contract by a year remains valid, and it will still be there for the Gunners to activate until the end of the season.

If they can’t reach an agreement on a new deal before May, and if Jorginho remains in strong form, you’d think Arsenal would then fall back to their extension option to ensure they don’t lose the midfielder for nothing.

Romano added that Mikel Arteta is “really happy” with Jorginho’s performances at the moment. The decision to open contract talks certainly suggests that’s the case.