Arsenal Transfer News: Granit Xhaka Deal 'Imminent,' Latest Gunners Rumours

Arsenal’s potential acquisition of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka is reportedly "imminent" after the Gunners lodged a €43 million (£34 million) bid for the player. 

According to the Rheinische Post (h/t BT Sport’s Archie Rhind-Tutt), the transfer is now on the brink of being completed:

Wayne Veysey of Football Insider has also reported the Gunners have “stepped up” their interest in the Switzerland international with a £34 million offer.

Veysey added the club will offer Xhaka a five-year deal worth £120,000-a-week, taking the overall value of the transfer up to £65 million.

German football journalist Raphael Honigstein also offered his take on a possible deal, suggesting Arsenal could pay €50 million (£39.5 million) for the player in total:

The impressive 23-year-old has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season with some rumbustious showings in the middle of the park. Here are some of his standout moments:

Power, leadership, tenacity and defensive application; Xhaka boasts a lot of qualities that Arsenal’s midfield has long lacked.

The Gunners have always been aesthetic in their build-up play, especially with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in the side. However, underpinning that attacking flair, there’s never been a sturdy, combative midfield base. Xhaka, an authoritative box-to-box presence, would help solve this issue.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Rhind-Tutt outlined some other positive facets of Xhaka’s game, as well as some areas in which he can improve:

While the physical presence he will provide will make Arsenal a more intimidating foe in big games, the Swiss player is also a natural footballer.

Xhaka has brilliant technical ability and is able to commit opposition midfielders in the middle of the park. That’s been a key feature in the way in which Monchengladbach have played this season, excelling at nicking the ball back off opponents and countering with pace.

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A sum of £34 million may seem like a hefty amount for the Gunners to spend on a player; it’d be the second-highest fee paid in their history. However, Bleacher Report’s Clark Whitney thinks Xhaka is worth the outlay:

Elsewhere, in what would be a lower-profile transfer, Arsenal have reportedly deployed chief scout Steve Rowley to run the rule over 20-year-old Sehrou Guirassy.

The forward is currently on loan in French football’s second tier at Auxerre from Lille and has been impressive, netting eight goals in 16 appearances.

According to ESPN (h/t Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star), his displays have attracted the interest of the Gunners, and Rowley was in place to watch the player against Le Havre recently.

Here’s a look at one of his goals for the second-tier side, in which the youngster showcased sharp predatory instincts:

While it’s encouraging to see Arsenal keeping tabs on hidden gems like Guirassy, the club’s supporters will be excited by the prospect of Xhaka. Not only because the Swiss is one of the best up-and-coming midfield men in European football, but he will also iron out some weaknesses the manager should have addressed in the transfer market a long time ago.

Francis Coquelin is a popular figure among the fanbase, while Mohamed Elneny has also performed very well since his January move. But Xhaka is an upgrade on both of those figures, and while he may have to curtail his aggressive instincts in the Premier League, he has the attributes to help Arsenal finally rid themselves of their flyaway reputation.