Arsenal: 3 reasons Granit Xhaka should be sold

3. Selling Granit Xhaka is Realistic in This Market

Roma were said to be keen on wrapping a deal up for £10m plus bonuses. They know what to do with that offer.

However, this isn’t a situation where Arsenal can be demanding £35m. Comparing what other players in similar positions will or have sold for isn’t going to get anyone anywhere. Being totally realistic, £20m for Xhaka is an offer to accept.

Is that undercutting his value? He is a solid midfielder with many limitations and by no means top of the range in his position; he’s 28 going on 29 years old and has two years left on his deal; he’s looking to be sold in a market suffering heavily from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, where clubs finances have been shot across the continent.

If he goes for £20m then you can frame it in another way: have Arsenal got £15m worth out of his five seasons and 220 games? Not the framework to operate in but a differing perspective.

Yes, if more than £20m can be squeezed out then it needs to be taken. Interest from across Europe will help jump up his value, but with the European Championships approaching, the sooner a deal is wrapped up, the better.

Furthermore, most supporters will have wanted a new central midfielder brought in this summer. There is no way in hell that Xhaka would suffice with a squad role. None at all. In order to take the next step for this team upgrades need to be made across the pitch and with Partey’s spot in the team assured it’s Xhaka who can be improved upon.

Thus, selling him and reinvesting the £20m (or whatever it may be) on another target is an opportunity not to be missed out on. It’s now on the club to spend it well.