According to Fabrizio Romano, Granit Xhaka is set to sign a new four-year contract with Arsenal which will keep him at the club until June 2025.
The Switzerland international joined the Emirates club back in 2016. He has racked up 220 appearances in a span of five years. He was an indispensable player in Mikel Arteta’s team, having played 45 games across all competitions last season.
The 28-year-old also played a significant role in Switzerland’s incredible performance at the Euros. He led his team to the quarterfinals after knocking the favorites, France, out of the tournament in the round of 16.
Xhaka seemed to be out of the door with an agreement to join AS Roma. New Roma boss, Jose Mourinho, was reportedly interested in bringing him to the Italian capital but the tides have turned.
The midfielder is expected to stay in north London after his transfer to the Serie A side fell through, reports Fabrizio Romano. The deal offered to the midfielder is a four-year contract. Just the minor details are left to be agreed upon between both parties.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1422398353950879774
Mikel Arteta has insisted the Swiss is part of his plans and he will stay at the club. After Arsenal’s defeat to Chelsea in The Mind series, the Spaniard said:
“Granit [Xhaka] is going to stay with us. He is a key member of our squad.”
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The Emirates club signed Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach for a reported fee of £35million. A lot of expectations came with this hefty price tag. While he has shown glimpses of quality, it is fair to say he has never delivered for the team consistently.
A summer overhaul is expected at the club after a disappointing campaign last season. A move away for the Swiss was certainly on the cards, with many fans agreeing this was the right time to cash in on the midfielder and use the funds generated to bolster other areas of the pitch. But his impressive outing at the Euros could have been a major factor in this turnaround.
If the 28-year-old manages to replicate the brilliance from the Euros, then Arsenal have hit the jackpot. They can invest their time and effort in other areas of the pitch that need immediate addressing. However, if things don’t go to plan the north Londoners will find themselves in a similar predicament as last season. This is a gamble taken by the club and only time will tell if it was worth taking.
Read More: Opinion: What might happen if Arsenal give Granit Xhaka an extension
