Granit Xhaka’s move to Bayer Leverkusen is ‘edging closer’ and it has been reported Arsenal will receive over £20million for the midfielder’s services.
It was reported before the 2022/23 season ended that Xhaka would be leaving the Gunners to return to Germany.
He spent four years there as a Borussia Monchengladbach player, becoming captain in 2015 before agreeing a £34m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2016.
Amazingly, Arsenal failed to finish inside the top four during Xhaka’s time at the club, until last term, when they finished second.
And after falling out with the fans on a number of occasions, the Switzerland captain looks like he will leave north London on great terms with everyone associated with the club.
He enjoyed a tremendous 22/23 campaign, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in 37 Premier League appearances, while only picking up four yellow cards.
Fabrizio Romano said in May that Xhaka would leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window with a €15million fee being discussed.
The transfer expert says personal terms have been reached over a contract until 2027 and a transfer was expected to be completed before the summer window opened.
It has not happened yet and it has recently emerged that the 30-year-old will be sold after Mikel Arteta brings in a new midfielder, with a deal to sign West Ham’s Declan Rice almost complete.
Although Romano said the fee would be €15m, a fresh report from Football London says Arsenal will receive €25m.
The report states: ‘Reports had previously suggested that the Swiss international was set join Leverkusen for a fee in the region of £13m.
‘Now though, it is thought that the two clubs are thought to have agreed a €25m fee that will see the 30-year-old secure a return to the Bundesliga.’
Xhaka wanted to leave Arsenal at the time of Arteta’s appointment. He fell out with the club’s supporters after throwing his shirt to the ground and telling the Emirates fans where to go.
Arteta convinced the Swiss midfielder to stay and made him a crucial part of his team.
Xhaka stepped up into a box-to-box role in 2022, which suited him very well. Beforehand, he was often used as a defensive midfielder.
The change in position gave the player more freedom to attack and in turn, helped his disciplinary issues.
Xhaka has always been criticised for being a hot-head on the pitch, something that is quite harshly labeled alongside him.
As mentioned prior, he only picked up four bookings in the Premier League last season, which was by far his best season for the Gunners in that regard.
[football365]