Arsenal Transfer News: The Gunners want to replace Granit Xhaka soon. Mikel Arteta has identified a replacement for him
Arsenal Transfer News: Confidence in a deal to capture the England international, Declan Rice, has increased. Thus Arsenal has chosen to replace Granit Xhaka with Declan Rice. As reported by The Times, Arsenal has made West Ham’s captain their top priority this summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to add two central midfielders to his squad. Arsenal’s interest in Rice was mentioned, although the specifics were not discussed on beyond the posts earlier today.
The Times reports that the club’s management at the Emirates Stadium has targeted West Ham’s £62,000-per-week man to replace Xhaka in the starting lineup. The Swiss international, who has thrived under Arteta after struggling under Unai Emery, will be a free agent in June of 2024. Xhaka’s current deal with Arsenal pays him £110,000 per week, and the club is debating whether to extend it.
Arsenal Transfer News: What’s the matter?
However, Arteta is already making preparations to replace his No.34, at least in the sense that Rice will take his spot in the starting XI. Due to Arsenal’s lack of experience and the importance we place on the 30-year-old’s leadership abilities, we believe Arteta would be unwise not to extend an offer of employment to him.
Arsenal should strive to retain Xhaka. But it’s unclear whether he’d sign a new deal knowing he’d be on the bench. If nothing else, it was the right call to take out the Swiss mastermind from the starting lineup.
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What’s next for Granit Xhaka?
In the Highbury Squad YouTube channel, Kevin Campbell has expressed his opinion that Xhaka’s feet “aren’t fast enough” to make a difference in attack for the Gunners. Arteta doesn’t have much room to grow at Arsenal right now. But Xhaka’s performance in the centre left midfield position is a place for improvement.
🗣️| Jorginho on Granit Xhaka: “I asked him the other day where I could go for dinner around here and he booked me and didn't let me pay as well. I was like ‘Ok, thank you very much.’ Ha ha ha.” #afc pic.twitter.com/mYnLVe52PV
— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) February 21, 2023
The 53-year-old said: “We’ve seen Xhaka play better with Partey for a lot longer, we get that. At the end of the day though, Xhaka, as an attacking force, hasn’t been the same.
He’s getting caught on the ball and his feet aren’t quick enough most of the time, As we mentioned about Vieira, he’s making the difference at the top end of the pitch, Xhaka is more ponderous than Vieira.”
