While Andrea Berta is busy completing moves at the Emirates, a former Arsenal star is set for his own big-money transfer this summer.
The Gunners have already completed the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, while three more acquisitions are understood to be close to completion.
Noni Madueke will join from Chelsea for £52 million, while Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera is set to seal a move for less than £17 million.
Viktor Gyokeres is on the verge of a switch from Sporting for a deal worth in the region of £63 million, with attention then expected to turn to outgoings for Berta.
Granit Xhaka closing in on Saudi Arabia switch
Edu Gaspar sanctioned Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal departure for just £21 million back in 2023.
The Swiss international had just come off the back of his best season in a red and white shirt, netting nine goals across all competitions as the Gunners competed for the Premier League title for the first time in several years.
Since winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka is now set to take part in the mass exodus from the German club this summer, which has seen manager Xabi Alonso and key players Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah all leave.
According to Florian Plettenberg, Saudi Pro-League side Neom SC have offered the former Arsenal star a €10 million per year contract.
This would make him comfortably the highest-paid player at the Middle Eastern club, usurping Said Benrahma’s wage package.
Xhaka has verbally agreed to the deal, although Fenerbahce are also in the reckoning to land the 32-year-old.
Neom are expected to present a proposal worth around €6 million for the Leverkusen man, with talks now underway.
Xhaka had been linked with AC Milan earlier this summer, although it appears a more lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia is now the most likely outcome.
Arsenal should have sold Granit Xhaka for a higher fee
Arsenal have been criticised for their inability to acquire sufficient fees for players leaving the club in recent years.
While in many cases the problem has been that the Gunners have destroyed the value of the assets at their disposal, in the case of Xhaka, the argument that they should have sold better is valid.
At the time, attaining £21 million for an ageing central midfielder appeared to be a respectable sale.
However, based on what he’s done since and the level he’s demonstrated he’s still capable of playing at, this fee now looks somewhat measly.
Leading Leverkusen to a Europa League final and a domestic double, Xhaka has been a key figure in an excellent team and is now wanted by a Saudi club willing to pay him a huge salary.
Never relying on his physical attributes, it wasn’t unreasonable to suggest in 2023 that he could keep performing at a high level for several more years, and Arsenal should’ve contemplated this when looking to sell him.
In retrospect, a fee closer to £30 million would’ve been more reflective of the value Leverkusen were getting.
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