Arsenal Transfer News: Granit Xhaka Fee, Talks Reported, Latest Gunners Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly in talks to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfield destroyer Granit Xhaka, and German sources have revealed the fee the Gunners will have to pay for the Swiss international.

Sky Germany (h/t Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News) provided the details:

This rumour has gathered pace in recent days, with reports earlier this week stating Arsenal have met with the player's representatives, including Xhaka's father, per Simon Jones of the Daily Mail.

As noted in the report, Jones said: "Reports in Germany on Tuesday claimed a £33million fee has been agreed with wages of around £6.35million a year, or £122,000 a week, though Arsenal have not confirmed any talks."

German journalist Raphael Honigstein also confirmed the deal could happen (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw).

The timing of this prospective signing is a little curious. There's no doubt Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger needs a combative midfielder at the heart of his team. Xhaka fits the bill as a left-footed midfielder who boasts close to a complete game, according to Bleacher Report's James McNicholas:

"

This is a guy who can do almost everything. He is robust enough to operate as an effective ball-winner but is also blessed with wonderful technical skill. He is as comfortable making a sliding challenge as he is pinging a 30-yard pass across the pitch. He’s got a good long-range shot, too, and is a considerable threat at set pieces. At 23, he could yet become the complete midfielder.

"

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

But the Gunners have a strong base in the middle in the form of robust duo Francis Coquelin and January signing Mohamed Elneny. The former is a tenacious tackler, while the latter has improved Arsenal's composure and variety in possession.

More importantly, the Coquelin and Elneny partnership has helped balance Wenger's squad, providing an obvious platform to aid both defending and attacking.

Signing Xhaka for the fee discussed would mean breaking up this partnership.

On the other hand, making such a heavy financial commitment to another physical midfielder would prove Wenger is changing the profile of player he covets.

Since moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, the Frenchman has often valued diminutive technicians over battle-hardened beasts in the middle. But this season, subtle changes have been noticeable in the type of player starting for Arsenal.

Injuries to schemers like Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla have thrust Coquelin and Elneny into the starting XI. But the pair are also more akin to the sturdy partnerships Wenger used to favour in the middle, duos such as Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva or Edu and Ray Parlour.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Even the young prospects coming through up front for the Gunners seem built of stronger stuff. Teenagers Alex Iwobi and Jeff Reine-Adelaide are both tall, physical and direct.

Perhaps Wenger has even viewed the success of Premier League leaders Leicester City and decided to revive the formula that served him so well during his glory years at Arsenal. The Foxes have been a tough nut to crack all season thanks to the formidable midfield twosome of Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

With this level of strength in the middle, Leicester have been able to rely on a 4-4-2 formation, the tactical structure that has always suited Wenger best.

Pairing Xhaka with either Coquelin or Elneny next season would give the Gunners the power and drive in the middle to compete anywhere. It would also herald a throwback to the kind of teams Wenger used to build, squads imbued with as much brawn as flair.