According to sources who spoke to 90min, Granit Xhaka has been told by Arsenal that he is free to leave the team this summer after backing out of contract negotiations.
According to a recent report from 90min, the midfielder decided to consider his options rather than continue negotiations with the club for a new contract. The Swiss international's contract with Arsenal is set to expire at the end of 2024, and the club was eager to cling onto him after being impressed by his attitude during the 2022–2023 season, both on and off the field.
Arsenal has acknowledged that Xhaka's future lay outside of the Emirates Stadium, and as a result, negotiations on a move worth around €15 million have begun between the two parties.
Numerous Bundesliga teams, notably Xhaka's old team Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund, have expressed interest in the midfielder, but insiders have told 90min that Leverkusen is his preferred destination.
Now that the midfielder has made his decision known to them, Leverkusen is moving quickly to attempt to close a deal. In recent days, the pace of the negotiations has picked up.
According to sources with knowledge of the matter, everything is "amicable," and once Arsenal learned that Xhaka saw his future elsewhere, they were glad to approve a transfer.
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, reportedly wanted to keep Xhaka at the club because of his influence on the team's culture, but he supported the decision to let the Swiss player leave. When Xhaka was about to leave Arsenal in 2019 after being booed off the field and losing his captaincy, Arteta was instrumental in keeping him at the club.
The only person, according to Xhaka, who wanted him to stay at Arsenal was Mikel Arteta. "There was one guy [who wanted me to stay], his name is Mikel Arteta," Xhaka said.
No matter what happens, I will always be by his side. I'm positive I wouldn't be in the club without him.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0