According to esteemed German news outlet Bild via SportWitness , Arsenal have made progress in their efforts to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka.
According to their sources, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger met the Swiss international’s father and agent to discuss the big money move, which they estimate in total would cost the Gunners around €50m (around £39m).
The actual transfer fee for Xhaka would supposedly be around €43m (£33m) but signing-on fees and agent fees would see the move cost around £6m more to bring the 23-year-old to the Emirates.
This is also not including wages, which if the move were to happen, would also have to be substantial to bring Xhaka to North London.
A new central midfielder has long been pinpointed as an area Arsenal should focus on in the transfer markets. Ever since Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira left the Gunners’ midfield has been regarded as ‘lacking steel’. The emergence of Francis Coquelin half-way through the 2014-15 season appeared to have remedied the situation, however, his restricted technical ability and poor form since returning from injury has cost Arsenal this season.
Xhaka is regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the Bundesliga with similar defensive qualities to Coquelin, but as a fine passer of the ball he has more of the ability to start and catalyse attacking moves. The Swissman has also chipped in with a respectable three goals in the Bundesliga this season, so has the ability to unleash some fine strikes if needed, which Coquelin also lacks.
A major concern in a big-money move for Xhaka would be his poor disciplinary record. He’s managed to garner three red cards this season in 22 games, and four yellow cards. If translated into the Premier League with Arsenal, the Gunners could find themselves out of games with a one-man disadvantage.
Xhaka has already talked of his eagerness to move to the Premier League, and there is no doubt Arsenal would face some competition from England’s biggest teams to acquire the Monchengladbach midfielder’s considerble talents.
