Granit Xhaka is on the verge of completing a £21.5 million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.
Earlier reports suggested a £13 million deal, but it now appears that the two clubs have agreed upon a €25 million fee, which is thought to be enough to seal Xhaka’s return to the Bundesliga.
Xhaka played a crucial role for Arsenal last season, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists while operating in a more advanced position. However, with only a year left on his contract, Arsenal have decided to cash in on the 30-year-old midfielder.
After weeks of speculation, it is believed that Xhaka will finalize his move to Germany in the coming days.
It’s thought Granit Xhaka would only be allowed to leave Arsenal once the club manage to bring in a replacement which suggests a deal for Declan Rice is nearly 100% complete.
READ MORE: Arsenal looking to complete four deals within the next seven days.
Arsenal are currently negotiating a payment structure with West Ham for Declan Rice in a deal that could see the English international join the Gunners for a staggering fee of up to £105 million, setting a new record for a British player.
This acquisition will further bolster Mikel Arteta’s midfield options, following Arsenal’s recent £65 million deal for Chelsea’s versatile player, Kai Havertz. Although Havertz was initially targeted for his adaptability, he is expected to feature in the midfield at the Emirates Stadium.
Xhaka’s departure from Arsenal will end his remarkable seven-year stint in north London.
The Swiss international joined Arsenal in the summer of 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach in a deal worth in excess of £30m and made 297 appearances and scored three goals. He was stripped of the captaincy handband following an incident during a match against Crystal Palace in 2019, which looked like his time in North London was coming to an end. However, under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, the 30-year-old experienced a remarkable resurgence and reached new heights in his performances this season.
Since then, he has formed a solid partnership with Thomas Partey in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.
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