Arsenal’s determination to maintain Granit Xhaka amid curiosity from Roma in 2021 has paid off with the Gunners now reportedly set to obtain £21.5million for the midfielder. Xhaka was linked with a change to Serie A two years in the past for a a lot smaller payment, however was satisfied to remain by Mikel Arteta. 

At the time of Roma’s curiosity, Xhaka was nonetheless a much-maligned determine on the Emirates Stadium. In the 2 years since, the 30-year-old has rekindled his relationship with the Arsenal fanbase and blossomed into a popular determine, guiding the Gunners’ younger stars on their Premier League title pursuit final season. 

Xhaka’s enchancment has ensured that Arsenal will earn rather more cash for his departure two years on from his curtailed change to Roma. After a powerful season below Arteta, the Switzerland worldwide is about to go away for Bayer Leverkusen. 

Arsenal are claimed to have rejected a £12.9m supply from Roma in 2021. It would have been a meagre payment for a participant who went on to have an especially impactful 48 months in North London. 

According to Football.London, Leverkusen at the moment are set to pay almost double that payment. Xhaka is now supposedly closing in on a £21.5m change to the Bundesliga outfit. 

Receiving a a lot larger payment exhibits that Arsenal’s determination to maintain Xhaka two years in the past has paid off. Last 12 months, the midfielder defined how shut that deal got here to occurring and opened up on the talks with Arteta and sporting director Edu that satisfied him to stay. 

“It was something, yes. Very close,” Xhaka stated in June 2022. “It didn’t happen because Mikel was the guy with Edu, they didn’t let me go because they wanted to keep me here. 

“Of course, my first reaction was to stay at the football club. But they opened the door: ‘If something comes, I can leave’. 

“I have to be honest as well. I don’t want to say a name now, but the door was open for me to leave the club as well. But in the end, people decided to keep me here.”

Arsenal had really come near promoting Xhaka to Leverkusen for simply £13m earlier this summer time, however as an alternative waited for a substitute to reach earlier than negotiating a brand new payment. After welcoming Declan Rice, they'll now obtain £8.5m greater than they initially have been comfortable to simply accept. 

A £21.5m payment for Xhaka will assist to offset a giant summer time outlay, with Arteta doubling down on final season’s shock Premier League title pursuit. In a collection of assertion arrivals, Kai Havertz has already arrived from Chelsea, whereas Arsenal are believed to be closing in on deals for Rice and Jurrien Timber.