Roma ‘on the cusp of agreeing £15.5m deal with Arsenal for Granit Xhaka with Swiss midfielder set to pen a four-year contract with Serie A side’ and link up with huge admirer Jose Mourinho
- Granit Xhaka has been strongly linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Roma
- The Arsenal player could be part of a summer exodus at the north London club
- Mourinho has spoken of his admiration for the Switzerland international captain
- Xhaka is close to agreeing a £15.5million move to Roma, according to reports
Jose Mourinho‘s Roma are close to an agreement with Arsenal for the £15.5million signing of midfielder Granit Xhaka, according to reports in Italy.
Portuguese manager Mourinho is planning his first transfer window with the Serie A side after becoming the Giallorossi boss at the start of May.
Meanwhile, the Gunners are set for an exodus of players after failing to qualify for European football for the first time in 25 years last season, with Xhaka reportedly set to be on the way out with Hector Bellerin and Willian.
Roma are close to agreeing a £15.5million move for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka
Newly-appointed Roma boss Jose Mourinho is planning his first transfer spending spree
And according to Corriere dello Sport, an agreement of around £15.5m is set to be sealed between the two sides, including bonuses, with Roma preparing to offer Xhaka a four-year contract.
The Switzerland midfielder joined the Gunners for £35million in the summer of 2016 and became Arsenal’s club captain three years later before being stripped of the role after five months after falling out with supporters.
Xhaka has played 220 times for the Gunners, scoring 13 goals, and has helped the north Londoners to two FA Cup and two Community Shield trophies.
Xhaka (right) has been at Arsenal for five years and has won two FA Cups with the Gunners
While Xhaka claims he is totally focused on the Euros with Switzerland, whom he captains, the midfielder admits he has read about Roma’s interest in him.
The Arsenal man told Blick: ‘Of course I read (about the interest). But now I’m 100 per cent focused on the national team here. That’s more important than Arsenal or rumours right now.
‘I have another two years on my contract in London and Arsenal they know what they have in me. When the time comes to talk about a transfer, I’ll be here.’
Mourinho has been a long-term admirer of Xhaka, embracing the midfielder after Spurs’ north London derby victory over their rivals this season, and praised him back in 2019.
Mourinho (left) has previously described Xhaka (right) as a ‘leader’ and Arsenal’s ‘main man’
‘Xhaka is the main man in the entire Arsenal midfield, you can’t see it unless I lend you one of my eyes,’ the former Chelsea boss said.
‘Without him, Arsenal is lost. He is a leader. Remember, mistakes are made by humans.’
Xhaka admitted he is not aware of these comments by Mourinho – but said he enjoys hearing praise like that from such a respected figure in the game.
The midfielder added: ‘To be honest, I didn’t hear what Mourinho has said about me. But that makes you proud.
‘Everyone knows Mourinho, knows what he has achieved. Mourinho knows how to win titles. You can now see what work I have done over the past few years.’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is planning his market strategy after a disappointing campaign
Meanwhile, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly looking to sell the likes of Bellerin and Xhaka to raise funds for a transfer spending spree, according to reports.
Sportsmail revealed last week that the Gunners are set to swoop for Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, who is believed to be valued at around £34million.
Neves is aware of Arsenal’s interest and indicated his willingness to join the north Londoners to team-mates. Meanwhile, Brighton’s Yves Bissouma is another name on Arsenal’s midfield shortlist.
Arsenal are also set to lose midfielder Dani Ceballos, who has spent the last two seasons on loan from Real Madrid, while Martin Odegaard is also heading back to the Spanish capital as it stands.
