Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 5 cut-price summer transfers to prepare for

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette, Mohamed Elneny and Hector Bellerin of Arsenal confront referee Craig Pawson, as he awards Fulham a penalty during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on April 18, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette, Mohamed Elneny and Hector Bellerin of Arsenal confront referee Craig Pawson, as he awards Fulham a penalty during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on April 18, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Granit Xhaka
Switzerland’s midfielder Granit Xhaka smiles prior to the Euro 2020 football qualification match between Switzerland and Ireland at the Stade de Geneve stadium on October 15, 2019 in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) /

5. Granit Xhaka

Contract expiry: 2023
Normal valuation: £25m
Realistic fee: £17m

Granit Xhaka will be playing well into his 30’s. He isn’t going to get much slower or less mobile than he is now. He’s still got real value. He’ll still know how to kick a ball.

Will he be doing so at Roma? It’s a saga that it’s best to avoid following in the Italian press with the hourly updates that repeat the same story with precious little in the way of developments becoming very tiresome.

Most recently what we’ve been told is that ‘everything has stopped‘ because Roma still haven’t matched what Arsenal want. Personal terms have been agreed and the player wants to test himself under Jose Mourinho, but that’s it.

There is still time for other clubs to be involved and, in truth, hopefully there is interest elsewhere that forces Roma to pull their finger out and raise their offer by the £4m or so they’re lagging behind. Xhaka is worth far more than £17m which is a bargain in itself, but with the Swiss now having his heart set on leaving, only a departure will suffice.

Him returning and being part of the squad next season can’t be considered. A buyer has to be found.

Next. Cedric or Chambers?. dark

If Roma don’t pay the £17m Arsenal want, fingers crossed someone else will.

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