Bayer Leverkusen are lining up a summer bid for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, according to reports in the English media.
The Swiss international has a year left on his contract at the Emirates and Leverkusen believe that, due to his age and the length of time left on his current deal, they can sign the player for less than £20m.
Considering the influential role that Xhaka has played in the club’s title challenge this season, many fans on Twitter would prefer to keep the 30-year-old:
Not worth it especially for £20m we still need his experience and quality
— ys (@ysgwp1) May 9, 2023
Xhaka will stay ignore the noise
— le padré (@Mwawasi__) May 9, 2023
Don't want to lose Xhaka!!!
— MotownGooner75 (@feliciacoltony1) May 9, 2023
Less than 20m after his best season for the club, keep dreaming
— Abay Maja (@AbayomiMaja) May 9, 2023
40 mil or not at all
— Ahmad Rifai (@ripeess) May 9, 2023
First season he is actually going to play CL with us, let him cook next season
— Specificity FC. (@BeastDaBest) May 9, 2023
Xhaka is 30, he's easily got at least another 3 years at this level, he's not a player who has to rely on being athletic, could easily see him playing at 36 in Serie A
— Ted Cooper (@_TedCooper) May 9, 2023
He should just retire here abeg
— Thalassa♀️✳️ (@francisog017) May 9, 2023
Manager Mikel Arteta may have a difficult decision to make here. On the one hand, Xhaka is a very influential figure in the dressing room and, despite not wearing the armband, many feel he is the de-facto captain. The Swiss star has also excelled playing in a more advanced role this campaign.
From what we are led to believe, though, the Gunners may go all out to sign West Ham’s Declan Rice who could potentially be a replacement for Xhaka. On top of the fact that Leverkusen also have a player in Moussa Diaby that Arteta would like to sign, there are a number of reasons why Xhaka’s move to Germany could suit all parties.