Arsenal: 2 players take transfer step to seal summer moves

Granit Xhaka Cuts Holiday Short to Secure Roma Transfer From Arsenal

From the potential of being wrapped up in time for Switzerland’s opening game of the European Championships to now dragging on slower than a Neanderthal’s knuckles in the Rocky Mountains, Granit Xhaka is still an Arsenal player.

He won’t be come August 31, the only question is now how close to that date it will be before this commendable yet frustrating game of chicken goes on between the Gunners and Roma.

Reports emerge from Italy at a near hourly rate. The stance from either club remains almost entirely unchanged though, with Arsenal wanting €20m and I Giallorossi not willing to budge on their €15m offer. Meanwhile, Xhaka had agreed personal terms with Jose Mourinho’s side before the Euros even started.

The latest from Calcio Mercato adds that there is now around a €3m distance between the clubs financially, which would suggest that Roma are the side winning the battle of valuations.

Xhaka is currently away with his family in Montengro (good holiday spot?) and is also going to cut his vacation short if it means getting this move wrapped up in time for everyone to still have some patience and brain cells left to compute the rest of the window.

With a grand total of zero permanent signings made, while Arsenal are digging their heels in they’re also slowing down what moves they can make elsewhere. With departures that could easily reach double figures if all goes well, the state of the market is damaging their hopes of making crucial additions. At least the players are doing their part.