Arsenal: Roma eye insulting Granit Xhaka offer

Arsenal will need to sell before they buy this summer and cutting ties with the old guard appears to route in mind as Granit Xhaka looks set to leave the club this summer with Roma pushing hard for a deal all parties are agreeing to.

This is ruthless. Again the buzzword crops up but this is a sign of the club taking the leap of faith. For too long have Arsenal surrendered to their inconsistent old guard and attempted to circumnavigate the issue at hand but making signings around that core.

Mikel Arteta is taking the necessary steps to reshape his side by culling the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Mesut Ozil, David Luiz and Sead Kolasinac, with Willian and Alexandre Lacazette seeming to head for the exit door, joined by Granit Xhaka.

News of a seemingly imminent departure for the Swiss captain shouldn’t come as a major surprise. Only convinced to stay by Arteta in December 2019 and shun the advances of Hertha Berlin, a gentleman’s agreement will have been in place to allow him to depart once the opportunity arose.

Roma eye insulting Granit Xhaka offer to Arsenal with Swiss midfielder nearing Jose Mourinho summer transfer

Now is that opportunity. Roma are making significant inroads towards bringing the 28-year-old to Serie A, with Jose Mourinho, a long-time admirer of him, keen on securing his signature as the first of his era in charge. Arsenal are taking the right steps.

Nonetheless, the Italian club can take their money and put it towards Mourinho’s inevitable severance package if they think they can land him for £10m plus bonuses, as Sky Sports report. That’s a derisory offer. Insulting. To player and club.

Arsenal are in no outstanding position of strength this window, something clubs are undoubtedly going to take advantage of just like Roma. Everyone is well aware of their financial predicament and the need to sell their assets before they can reinvest, thus holding them for ransom is expected.

£10m can be put where the sun doesn’t shine, though.

Xhaka may have his flaws, but with two years left on his deal and 28 years of age still making him a spring chicken, his impeccable injury record and style of play will easily see him play into his mid-30’s. Arsenal are said to only start negotiations at £20m, which is the least they should accept. Naturally, he could leave next summer for half that so the Gunners can’t bargain too hard.

More should be accrued but the state of the market and the will to have deals wrapped up soon in the window – sales like this are far easier to pull off before the European Championships begin in on June 11 – mean time is of the essence.

Roma are not the only interested club as has been widely reported and Italian clubs in general have felt the pinch, but they can be squeezed for more. The interest has to be used to Arsenal’s advantage even if Mourinho’s new side are the preferred destination of Xhaka.