Arsenal will ‘definitely’ sign another central midfielder despite the January acquisition of Italy international Jorginho, according to Ben Jacobs.

The Gunners signed Jorginho from Chelsea on deadline day after failing to land Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo.

It was reported in January that Arsenal have made West Ham United and England midfielder Declan Rice their top summer target, though they did not attempt to sign him during the winter window.

Arteta accelerated his side’s pursuit of a new midfielder following Mohamed Elneny’s injury, with Jorginho coming off the bench to make his debut against Everton on Saturday.

The Italian is seen as a short-term option and penned a one-and-a-half-year contract.

A move for Rice looks like it is still on the cards, and Ben Jacobs believes the Premier League leaders will ‘definitely’ add another midfielder in the summer transfer window.

Writing for CaughtOffside, Jacobs says the signing of Jorginho ‘doesn’t change’ Arteta’s desire to bolster his midfield further.

The journalist says Arsenal were ‘smart’ to not lodge a third bid for Caicedo as it could have ‘damaged’ their relationship with Brighton after the south coast club had told the Gunners to ‘stop wasting their time’ pursuing the Ecuadorian.

While Rice remains a target, it is said that a summer bid for Caicedo could be possible, and the 21-year-old’s price tag could actually drop with ‘a lot of midfielders available this summer’.

Rice remains Arsenal’s ‘priority’ and West Ham are ‘resigned to losing’ the England international.

The 24-year-old’s contract expires in 2024, meaning clubs are hoping he will be available for around £70-80million, even if Hammers boss David Moyes believes he will be a British record fee.

Arsenal will be delighted to see that Chelsea ‘really want Rice’, while Manchester United and Newcastle United ‘can’t be ruled out either’.

Rice does want to stay in London, which obviously benefits the Gunners and the Blues, while he desires a team in the Champions League, which looks like it would benefit the former and not the latter at this stage.

Arsenal are the ‘favourites’ right now, but that is obviously not entirely important, as we saw with Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Jacobs adds that the signing of Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans – whose contract expires at the end of 2022-23 – hasn’t been ruled out by Arsenal.

Manchester United and Newcastle, once again, are ones to watch with Tielemans.

A Real Sociedad departure for Martin Zubimendi is ‘very possible’ in the summer window and will be available for no more than €60m – his release clause.

Barcelona, Tottenham and United are keen, though Zubimendi was linked with Arsenal last month.

It is added that Arteta ‘considered’ making a move for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez, who was a top target for Chelsea last summer.

This was also reported by The Athletic, who mentioned Zubimendi and Alvarez as players Arsenal looked at.

Alvarez pushed to join Chelsea last summer, but Ajax were extremely reluctant to let him leave after already selling several key players.

Liverpool have previously scouted Alvarez and Newcastle ‘loosely’ have the Mexican on their ‘radar’.

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