With the January transfer window close to opening, all eyes are on the future of Granit Xhaka.
The midfielder, Granit Xhaka has reached an agreement with Hertha Berlin and informed Arsenal he wants to join the Bundesliga club, according to the player’s agent. It shouldn’t be of any surprise that Granit wants to be on his way out of Arsenal, he did not find his way back into the team as too much has happened with him to stay for the long term.
Xhaka’s future at Emirates Stadium has been in doubt since the midfielder reacted angrily to being replaced during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in October. He was also left out of the squad for weeks following the incident, and it looked as if he may have played his last game in a Gunners shirt. However, he was drafted back into the team by interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, before Mikel Arteta arrived at the Emirates Stadium.
In a recent interview, Xhakha’s agent said;
‘Look, I will say it frankly and honestly, we are in agreement with Hertha BSC and would like to go to Berlin,
‘We have told Arsenal’s club boss Raul Sanllehi and sporting director Edu Gaspar, as well as the new coach Mikel Arteta.
‘Arsenal was informed about all the steps, the player and Hertha are clear. ‘It’s only about the transfer fee of the clubs.’
According to German sports outlet, Bild, Hertha Berlin has offered a fee of £21.3 million for the Swiss international. The major issue in the deal might be the transfer fees as Arsenal shelled around £30 million in 2016 to gain the services of former Borussia Moenchengladbach player.
However, the Swiss international looks set for a move away from the Emirates after a controversial few months which included being stripped as club captain for gesturing towards and swearing at fans while being booed off against Crystal Palace. With an offer from Hertha Berlin on the sides, it remains interesting to see will Xhaka remain as a Gunner after the transfer window.
