Arsenal reportedly plan to make moves for both Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo during the summer transfer window.
Following a serious knee injury to Mohamed Elneny, who could miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery, Arsenal quickly turned their attention to a last-minute midfield acquisition in the January transfer window.
The Gunners firstly saw two bids for Brighton & Hove Albion's Caicedo rejected, in spite of the player's vocal desire to leave the club and take up a "magnificent opportunity" at the Emirates Stadium.
Brighton held firm on their £100m stance, though, and the Ecuador international remained at the Amex Stadium beyond deadline day, forcing Arsenal to consider alternative targets.
Mikel Arteta's side managed to secure the deadline-day signing of Jorginho from Chelsea, paying £10m plus a further £2m in add-ons to sign the Italian on an 18-month contract.
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Jorginho became Arsenal's third signing of the winter window after Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior, and his deal includes an option to extend for an additional 12 months until 2025.
The former Napoli man's arrival triggered Albert Sambi Lokonga's loan exit to Crystal Palace, but the Eagles do not possess the option to make the Belgian's stay a permanent one.
At 31 years of age, Jorginho is certainly not a long-term solution to Arsenal's midfield shortage, while Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey will also turn 31 and 30 this year respectively.
Having restricted their spending during the January transfer window, Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth - via football.london - claims that the Gunners will try to sign both Rice and Caicedo in the summer.
West Ham United captain Rice has turned down numerous offers of a new contract from David Moyes's side, who are now resigned to losing him this summer before he walks away for free in 2024.
The Hammers have consistently driven a hard bargain for the England international - previously valuing him at £100m - but a fee closer to £60m may be acceptable at the end of the season.
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Rice has guided West Ham into the Europa League and Europa Conference League since coming through their youth academy, but the 24-year-old has confirmed his desire to make the step-up to Champions League level.
Speaking at a press conference while on World Cup duty in December, Rice said: "One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years I've been saying that.
"I've been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.
"You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in."
Arsenal may still have to fend off competition from Rice's former club Chelsea to sign the midfielder, in spite of the Blues paying a British record fee of over £106m to bring Enzo Fernandez to the capital on deadline day.
Arteta's side remain five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and are next in action away to 19th-placed Everton on Saturday lunchtime.
Ben Knapton
