Granit Xhaka Arsenal Future Confirmed
Granit Xhaka will remain at the club this summer, Mikel Arteta has confirmed to newsmen.
The 28-year-old Swiss international had been linked with a move to A.S Roma away from Arsenal.
Roma showed interest in Xhaka, only for the deal to collapse following a failure from the clubs to reach an agreement over a transfer fee. Jose Mourinho's new coaching club can't meet the £17m (€20m) asking price and Arsenal won't compromise.
Granit Xhaka headed Arsenal’s equalizing goal during the Gunners’ 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea in a pre-season friendly at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Since the deal failed and no breakthrough coming forth from AS Roma, Arteta confirmed after Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Chelsea that Xhaka will not be leaving the club.
“Granit is going to stay with us. He is a key member of our squad,” these were the manager’s words to TalkSPORTS immediately after the final whistle.
Xhaka’s Arsenal future had been in doubt for some time despite him being regular for Arteta last season, played in 31 premier league matches and started 29.
Fabrizio Romano has tweeted that after rejecting an offer from Roma worth a guaranteed £10m, plus a further £2.5m in add-ons. Arsenal intends to hand Xhaka a new contract.
Mikel Arteta to @talksport: “Granit Xhaka is going to stay with us. He is a key member of our squad”. ⚪️🔴 #AFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 1, 2021
Arsenal offered him a new contract until June 2025 with an increased salary, confident to complete the agreement soon after turning down Roma bid [€12m+€3m add ons].
In a report by Sky Sports on Friday, Arteta never wanted Xhaka to leave. Therefore, had convinced him to stay in January 2020 soon after taking over from Unai Emery. Xhaka had a clashed with Emery.
Arsenal Next Move After Granit Xhaka
With the signings of Ben White (CB), full-back Nuno Tavares and midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga. Arsenal is looking forward to signing more players this summer. They have their eyes on 23-year-old Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United) and James Maddison (Leicester City).
Arsenal has one final friendly to play against north London rivals Tottenham on August 8. They will face newly-promoted Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium in the England Premier League.