Arsenal to offer Granit Xhaka shock new contract

Just when you thought the transfer window couldn’t cough up any more madness, here go Arsenal in offering Granit Xhaka a new contract to stay at the club.

The pursuit of a new central midfielder to partner Thomas Partey this summer is top of the order. This window will be defined by the quality of that signing, one whom can raise the ceiling that this team has and propel Arsenal back into a meaningful European outfit.

All of which hung on Granit Xhaka leaving. One of the first transfer stories to emerge following the end of the Premier League season, such was the haste with which to get this deal done that there was even talk of it being completed before the European Championships kicked off.

Roma and their new boss Jose Mourinho had put the Swiss captain at the top of their summer wishlist; Xhaka wanted a fresh challenge; and Arsenal saw an opportunity to reshape the outlook of the team.

Arsenal to offer Granit Xhaka shock new contract as Roma fail to meet transfer demands for Swiss midfielder in summer window

While discussions have been rumbling on for a worrying amount of time, there was always an acceptance that soon enough Roma would cave in to Arsenal’s lowly demands of £17m, having previously been unwilling to budge on their offer of £3-£4m below that figure. For a player with plenty of years ahead of him, bursting with experience and off the back of an excellent Euro 2020, even £17m is undercutting his true value.

But Roma have still not budged. Not only, that, they’ve gone so far as to convincing Arsenal that this deal won’t happen. The response? Arsenal are preparing to offer the 28-year-old a new contract.

As per The Athletic, Roma’s meagre offer has not sufficed and prompted this course of action. Xhaka has two years left to run on his deal and the process being taken is one that has been commonplace over the past 12 months, with numerous players within the squad signing contract extensions with the intention of protecting them as assets.

What does this say about Arsenal’s efforts to sign new players this summer? The links have been plentiful and while this offer appears to be in reaction to Roma not meeting the demands, it also indicates that the recruitment team are struggling to find someone they deem an upgrade on Xhaka.

Interestingly, it’s added that Xhala was always happy to stay in north London despite being up for this this window. What this move does is free up funds elsewhere to bolster the squad, with backup goalkeeper, right-back, attacking midfield and striker all on the wishlist.

Who saw this coming, then?