Sky report says that Xhaka is keen on a return to the Bundesliga

We wrote a few days ago that Arteta had Granit Xhaka on his list of players he was willing to let go in the summer. Not long after that, we learned that the Swiss international was deemed untouchable by Arteta, as the Spaniard still had a role for him in his project.

Before Xhaka fans get too comfortable about the midfielder staying and potentially signing a new deal, a report has emerged that the Arsenal No. 34 could be allowed to go. Xhaka is heavily admired at Bayer Leverkusen, and they would have loved him to join them soon. But as per Sky Sports, that deal is more likely to happen next summer. Arsenal No. 34 is already so convinced that his time at the Emirates is running out that he is telling those close to him he’s leaving when his deal expires.

If he were to leave this summer, Arsenal would have got a good £20 million from his sale, which is good money considering he is in the last year of his deal.

Xhaka has been brilliant this term; he’s looked transformed, and his five goals and seven assists make this his most impactful season as a Gunner.

Arsenal’s midfield has operated well, with Xhaka playing with Odegaard as double Number 8s. If Arsenal were to get their top midfield targets — rumour has it they want Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, and Romeo Lavia — can the Swiss international captain still feature prominently next season?


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8 Comments

  1. Sell him this summer then. If a player is eager to sit out his contract, his performances won’t be up to standard. We’ve seen this many times before:

    – Sanchez’s last season (departed 6 months before leaving for free)

    – Lacazette’s last season before departing for free

    1. Laca was good for a large chunk of last season – it was only right at the end when he dropped off, but i don’t think it was due to lack of effort, just form.

    2. Pls ARSENAL & MIKEL ARTETA take this as a piece of advise. Pls don’t sell Granit Xhaka now. Because he os an integral part of the Arteta project i guessed. So also as Gunners fan for 23yrs, to be candid i have never see any player that after falling out with Arsenal fans all over and still gains back the conscious of the fans as well improving and getting back into the fold of excellent performance as GRANIT XHAKA had, and contributing outstandingly to his side (Arsenal). And with that, we should tie him for not less than 2yrs at the Emirate, because we were going to play in the Champions League next season and the need for player like the Swiss captain is paramount. And any attempt to do away with XHAKA is suicide.

  2. Replacing Xhaka is likely to be more difficult than most would have anticipated.
    He has certain weaknesses which have been partly mitigated by certain adjustments to his game and the setup of the team. His combustibility has also been an issue at times.
    On the other hand he has important strengths which are not easy to replace. He has an under-appreciated tactical understanding and generally good positional awareness. He also has some useful technical skills, good passing and ball striking ability.
    Importantly, he has great durability, good leadership skills and a positive attitude.
    Overall, a greatly improved player who should ideally have an extension to his contract.

    1. While I concur with most of your views David, to me it makes sense to cash in on a guy who has reached his peak to acquire the likes of Caicedo who has a very important ingredient which Xhaka has always lacked, namely pace .To combat counter attacking teams particularly at the Emirates where only a few sides set out to match us in terms of possession, we need central midfielders who can recover quickly .Unfortunately none of our current midfielders including Xhaka, Zinchenko , Odegaard, Jorginho, and Elneny are quick with Partey being the exception to the rule.Caicedo to me would be an upgrade on Xhaka and while we would lose a measure of balance by the loss of a left footer, let’s not forget that Zinchenko is a very able replacement who always plays at left CM for the Ukraine.The experiment of playing him as an inverted LB has not been a success recently and perhaps Arteta will recognise that in the Ukrainian he already has a ready made replacement for Xhaka.

  3. David you have highlights some massive traits of Xhaka, I couldn’t have said them any better.

    A keep saying he’s the perfect type of player you needs around the club even when he’s not playing, his team player traits is second to none.

    In my lifetime I have worked with these type of people, they are selfless they are the type that people ask about their involvement before they join in anything plan or executing.

    Only if he chooses to go should we sauntion such a move, he’s far more difficult to replace than most of us think

  4. I agre with Grandads view . I also think that wise clubs sell player just before they start toshow a falling off in value and beforfe they get too old tobeof much finacila value to a would be buyer Xhaka has had, BY HIS PREVIOUS TSNDARS, specail season. But by tht stndards of an upcomng powefil andfat younge rplaye such as CAICEDO, he is not agod comparison. I agre that XAHAK HAAS STRENGHT OF CHARACTE RBUT H IS RILLHOTHEADED AS THR klIVERPOOL GAME SHO3EWD ANDHE IS STILL SLOW INPACE He doe sposses good positional ability andreadingof th game.

    But IF we are as ambitious as we all hope and expect, far from being “a suicidal decision” , as a poster above this claims, it would be UNambitious to make do with XHAHA, when we can , must and I BELIEVE WILL, chase a better, faster, more mobile, younger and more level headed player, to upgrade him.

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