Arsenal Transfer News: Granit Xhaka Outlines Terms, Victor Wanyama Rumours

Arsenal target Granit Xhaka has admitted he would welcome a move to one of Europe's elite clubs, but he would need to be assured of regular first-team football in order to make the switch.  

According to Christian Hornung of German newspaper Bild (h/t ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld), the Borussia Monchengladbach star said: "Gladbach's a top club, but if I were to join a top, top, top club one day, I would want to play there. I am not a guy for the bench."

Per Charles Perrin of the Daily Express, the midfielder could cost the Gunners £37.6 million, and they face competition from Liverpool for his signature.

In his report, Hornung (h/t Perrin) added Chelsea to his list of suitors and revealed Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl's admission Xhaka could be on the move in the summer. He said: "There are always situations where every club has to think of each option. It depends partly on our sporting success. It depends on the performances of Granit and of course on the price."

Though Francis Coquelin has emerged as an outstanding option in defensive midfield in recent years, the Gunners have very little quality cover for him—something they've had to cope with in his injury-enforced absence for some time this season—though to that end, the club has already recruited Mohamed Elneny in January.

More of a holding player than an enforcer, Xhaka has made just 27 successful tackles from 74 attempts in the Bundesliga this season, but he has impressed with his reading of the game by making 46 interceptions in just 15 appearances, according to Squawka.

Xhaka would fit in well with the Gunners thanks to his incredible distribution, which he demonstrated last season, per WhoScored.com:

In 2012, Bundesliga writer Stefan Buczko highlighted the then-19-year-old Xhaka as a future star:

Now 23, Bundesliga expert Clark Whitney believes the midfielder is Gladbach's best player:

Indeed, the only concern over him is discipline, per OptaFranz:

Three of those red cards have come this season. 

Due to competition with Coquelin and now Elneny, Xhaka might not be in the starting lineup every week at Arsenal, so if the Gunners are determined to acquire his signature, they'll not only need to be prepared to spend big but also convince him to join their squad over his other suitors.

If they're unable to prise him away or if they're unwilling to splash so much money on him—which, after bringing in Elneny, they may not be, assuming he works out—they could go for Southampton's Victor Wanyama.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

According to Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph, the Saints might be willing to sell him to Arsenal if he has not signed a new deal by this summer, as he will then be in the final year of his contract.

Though he does not possess Xhaka's distribution, Wanyama is an effective ball-winner with 43 tackles and 47 interceptions made in the Premier League so far this season, according to Squawka. Indeed, WhoScored.com illustrated his impressive ability to win possession in midfield:

The 24-year-old is a cheaper and less high-profile option than Xhaka, but he could still be a strong addition to Arsenal's squad.