Arsenal have set a asking price of 20 million euros for AS Roma’s transfer target Granit Xhaka, after I Giallorossi made a bid of 13 million euros for Switzerland international.
The 28-year-old is allowed to leave north London at the right price during the summer and is the new Roma boss Jose Mourinho’s top priority for the upcoming transfer window. The Italian giants have already tested the waters with an opening bid, but they saw their progress backfire.
According to La Gazzetta, however, the two clubs are not that far from hitting a deal. Arsenal have put a price tag of 20 million euros on the former captain Xhaka, a figure that is 7 million euros higher than Rome’s original bid.
Rome’s new owners are keen to satisfy new coach Mourinho in the summer transfer window, and they are likely to launch another attack on the Swiss star. Xhaka is very much a classic Mourinho midfielder and would add a lot of steel to Giallorossi’s backbone.
The Arsenal man’s days at the Emirates Stadium seem to be numbered, with the club wanting to download a number of high-income earners and tune their squad for the coming season. The former Borussia Monchengladbach star has been a lightning rod for criticism in recent years and can welcome a move from north London.
Xhaka has spoken out about rumors that he is moving to Italy and while emphasizing that he has two years left on his current contract, he admitted that he felt “proud” of Mourinho’s kind words.
“Of course I read rumors. But now I am one hundred percent focused on the national team. It is more important than Arsenal or rumors right now, he says to Blick.
“I have two more years in London. And at Arsenal, they know what they got in me. When the time is right and we can talk about a transfer.
“Honestly, I have not heard what Mourinho said. But it makes you proud.
“Everyone knows Mourinho and what he has achieved. Mourinho knows how to win titles. You can now see the work I have done in recent years.”
Xhaka is ‘proud’ of Mourinho’s praise / Julian Finney / Getty Images
Roma may also be willing to offer one of their own stars in the form of a player-swap deal to convince the Gunners, with former Arsenal goal-scorer Amadou Diawara and winger Cengiz both seen as possible departures from the Stadio Olimpico.
Diawara have previously been interested in the Gunners, but Roma were reluctant to sell the former Napoli midfielder. He may not be such an important figure in Mourinho’s future plans and can be used as a weight to bring Xhaka to the Italian capital.
Turkish winger Under has also caught Arsenal in the past, but they are worried about his poor first season in the Premier League with Leicester City and can avoid putting him in the deal.
