Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is set to leave after seven years in north London, opening the door for a surprise or two in the transfer market.
The Swiss national captain arrived at the Emirates Stadium in 2016 and has gone on a rollercoaster journey with the Gunners. He almost quit the club in 2019 following a fallout with fans but remained to become a linchpin under Mikel Arteta, winning two FA Cup titles and helping the side qualify for the Champions League this season as a key man in the side.
But Xhaka's exit is imminent, with Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming that Bayer Leverkusen are now in advanced talks to bring the 30-year-old back to the Bundesliga, where he spent four years with Borussia Monchengladbach.
"No negotiations over new deal and [Arsenal] plan to part ways in June," Romano tweeted, adding, "Understand personal terms are almost agreed over four-year deal".
The move actually opens up transfer plans for the Gunners to strengthen even further than perhaps first expected, though.
It was thought by many that Declan Rice was the priority signing for Arsenal this summer as a defensive midfielder, with Brighton star Moises Caicedo as a backup option. In reality, Xhaka leaving opens the door for both to potentially move to north London with one used as a No.8 replacing Xhaka, while the unsettled Mason Mount of Chelsea has been linked, too.
Beyond Xhaka and Martin Odegaard as No.8s in Mikel Arteta's 4-3-3, Arsenal have the likes of Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe as potential options ahead of Thomas Partey or Jorginho as a deepest-lying midfielder. Xhaka's departure, however, heavily suggests that two new players will arrive in the centre of the park.
Arsenal also have Charlie Patino who can play in that position – though the teenager is expected to leave this summer – while Albert Sambi Lokonga has been on loan at Crystal Palace.
Xhaka is valued at €28 million by Transfermarkt.
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Arsenal are already being linked with a host of big names ahead of a season back in the Champions League.
Mason Mount is an option in midfield, with Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic and Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby rumoured in the attack. Both Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Crystal Palace star Wilf Zaha are on the radar, too. Younger stars are interesting the Gunners, too: Vitor Roque might end up at the Emirates, while Flamengo's Matheus Franca is being watched.
Meanwhile, cult hero Mathieu Flamini has refused to rule out a move to buy Arsenal.
