Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka is in advanced talks to seal a £13m move to Bayer Leverkusen this summer… with the Swiss midfielder set to sign a four-year-deal with the Bundesliga outfit as Mikel Arteta begins his Gunners rebuild
- The midfielder has impressed during Arsenal’s title chase this season
- 30-year-old has a year left on his contract at the Emirates, with option to extend
- Xhaka has made over 290 appearances in Arsenal red since joining in 2016
Granit Xhaka is in advanced talks to join Bayer Leverkusen in an expected £13m move to the Bundesliga.
The Arsenal ace has experienced a resurgence in form during the north London club’s title-chasing season, but is said to be interested in pursuing a new challenge.
Since joining Arsenal in 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach, the midfielder has made over 290 appearances in red.
Xhaka briefly held the captain’s armband for the Gunners, but was stripped of it in late 2019 after falling out with the fanbase amid a dip in form.
The Swiss international told fans to ‘f*** off’ after being substituted off amid a hail of boos in October 2019, and he then endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka is in advanced talks over a move to Bayer Leverkusen
Mikel Arteta played a large role in the player’s resurgence in form at the Emirates this season
But Xhaka’s comeback this season has been a crucial part of Arsenal’s extended stay at the top of the table during the 2022/23 campaign.
The player has just one year left on his Arsenal contract, although the club would be able to offer Xhaka an extension to keep him at the club until 2024.
Bayer Leverkusen have had an impressive second-half to their season under Spanish national team icon Xabi Alonso.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder was appointed at the Bundesliga outfit in October, after a lacklustre start to the season under former manager Gerry Seoane left the storied club languishing in the relegation places.
Under Alonso, the club has stormed up the table to seventh, where sit level on points with sixth-placed Wolfsburg and in striking distance of the European places.
A strong run in the Europa League has seen them reach the semi-finals, and they will play their second-leg tie against Jose Mourinho’s Roma at the BayArena on Thursday with a view to recovering from their 1-0 first-leg defeat on the road.
Alonso’s promise in just his second managerial appointment has seen him attract intrest from clubs with vacancies at the top.
Xhaka may hope to work with head coach Xabi Alonso (pictured) as he makes the move east
Tottenham, who are still without a permanent manager after Antonio Conte was sacked in March, are said to be interested in installing the World Cup winner and are willing to pay the manager’s pricey release cause to do so.
Arsenal had planned to offload their midfielder as they seek their own summer revamp in the mid-pack.
West Ham’s Declan Rice is believed to be a priority signing for the club as they look to build upon this season’s success.
The Gunners could also be seeking a somewhat of a swap deal with the German club, having long eyed talented forward Moussa Diaby as they seek to strengthen their squad in attack too.
