Barcelona target Arsenal midfielder ahead of possible January transfer swoop as star falls out of favour under Arteta

BARCELONA are reportedly lining up a free transfer swoop for Arsenal star Jorginho.

The Italian Euro winner, 31, joined the Gunners from Chelsea at the start of the year.

Barcelona are lining up a January swoop for out-of-favour Arsenal ace JorginhoAlamy

He played 14 times as Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Man City.

But Jorginho has found his minutes limited this season following the £105million arrival of Declan Rice.

Five of the playmaker’s six appearances have come from the bench.

And ESPN claims Jorginho could now be presented with an escape route to Barcelona in January.

However, Xavi Hernandez’s champions already trail Real Madrid in the title race by three points.

His midfield is yet to click into gear, with Oriol Romeu struggling to fill the boots of Sergio Busquets and Franck Kessie.

And Jorginho is seen as the ideal man to dictate Barcelona’s tempo from deep.

The Champions League winner could jump at the chance to test his skills in Spain, with Arsenal having been open to offers in the last window.

A move to the Nou Camp would see Jorginho link up with ex-Chelsea teammates Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso.

His presence would certainly give Barcelona more options through the middle.

Ilkay Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi are all competing for starting spots.

And Jorginho could be the missing piece of the jigsaw as Xavi looks to tiki-taka his way back to LaLiga’s summit.