I’m not sure if it was just me putting two and two together to get five, but during the Arsenal press conference ahead of the away game at West Ham last weekend it looked very much like Arsene Wenger was trying to hide a smile or a smirk when he was asked specific questions about the reported transfer target Granit Xhaka.
There have already been plenty of Arsenal transfer rumours in the football press linking us with the Switzerland international and now The Mirror is reporting that the Gunners are definitely going for the talented young midfielder in the summer.
In fact the report claims that we are already some way towards sealing the deal for the 23-year old star and have now stepped up the efforts to sign him from his current club. The news from Germany is that the Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach are digging their heels in over the price, as they think they can get over £30 million for their top player, but Arsenal are confident of completing the transfer.
With all the injury issues the Arsenal midfield have suffered yet again this season, with key Gunners like Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky and Coquelin missing big chunks of the campaign, that area of the pitch has been a major problem for Wenger. So it is hardly surprising to see a midfielder as the priority transfer target for the manager.
Is Xhaka the right man for us do you think?