Barcelona handed boost in signing Jorginho

Barcelona have been handed a boost in signing Chelsea midfielder Jorginho at the end of the campaign.

The Italian will enter the final six months of his Blues deal in January and negotiations are yet to start over a new deal.

The Catalans can negotiate a pre-contract in January and Sport claim that they have now been handed a huge transfer boost.

Gerard Pique's surprise retirement will save them wages of around £45m to £68m and this will be reinvested into the squad.

Inigo Martinez of Athletic Bilbao has been identified as a possible replacement for Pique. A move could be made this winter.

Meanwhile, the club will also focus on high-profile free-agents for next summer and Jorginho is one of the prime transfer targets.

The Italian could be handed a substantial rise on his current £130,000-a-week wages with the switch to Camp Nou next term.

The Euro 2020 winner is being seen as a potential replacement for Sergio Busquets, who has shown signs of regression lately.