Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal future remains in a consistent state of uncertainty every summer. Despite signing a new contract with the club last year, his long-term potential with Arsenal has never been assured.
football.london understood that Roma were expected to return this summer to agree on a potential deal after missing out on the Swiss last year. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has always been very keen on the former club captain but interest in Youri Tielemans looks to have put pressure on Xhaka’s position.
Now though, the Mirror claim that Bayer Leverkusen are considering a move for Xhaka. Having qualified for the Champions League they look at the 29-year-old as an experienced option who would strengthen their bid for the European elite trophy.
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Xhaka however has said recently how he wants to achieve ‘something special’ with Arsenal before he departs. Qualifying for the Europa League last season could hardly be described in such terms and so he would turn his back on this promise.
"I want to have a better relationship with the people outside, with the fans," Xhaka told The Player's Tribune.
. "To be closer with them. We never meet them; we never have a conversation with them.
“They are only seeing us on the pitch, for 90 minutes, and goodbye. They don't know how we trained before, they don't know how you feel, they don't know if you have problems with your family, they don't know a lot of points.
“After the season I still have two years contract here. I will give everything until I'm at this football club. I always say that. I didn't sign a new contract to be here for - enjoy my time and that's it. No, no, I want to achieve something with this club, something special. Before that, I don't leave."
The frustration for Arteta is that Tielemans, although an excellent player, does not necessarily guarantee an upgrade in the midfield should Xhaka leave. Both players offer differing strengths.
Is losing one and bringing in the other really strengthening the team? Arsenal will need a bigger squad and with greater depth to tackle the four competitions next season. Allowing Xhaka to move on could, arguably would, be a mistake.
