Arsenal renewing Granit Xhaka’s contract was always going to cause controversy.
Yet barely a week since the decision was made official, the Gunners seem to have made a fatal error.
As we head into the final week of the transfer window, clubs desperate to sell have become more disillusioned with trying to offload their star players to help with the financial burden football currently finds itself in.
And in doing so, there are bargains-a-plenty at every corner.
‘Generational’ talents are on sale
Houssem Aouar, long linked with a move to Arsenal, has now been made available for loan by Olympique Lyon as reported by Get French Football News.
Eduardo Camavinga, a talent labelled as ‘generational’ by World Football Index, can leave this summer for just €35m according to Fabrizio Romano.
The fire sale expands beyond France. FC Barcelona youngster Ilaix Moriba is free to leave the Catalan giants for a cut-price fee. With reports suggesting that the teenager’s agent has been to London this week.
Weston McKennie is also free to leave Juventus as reported by the Independent.
Arsenal made an error with Xhaka
Indeed, you can begin to understand why Arsenal have made such a grave error in retaining Xhaka for the next four years.
In the club’s rushed thinking to keep the midfielder, who will be 32 in 2025, the Gunners have failed to neglect that allowing the Swiss international to leave for cheap could have opened the door for a new midfielder to be signed.
The start of the window was full of hope and optimism for Arsenal despite the 8th place finish. Xhaka looked set to leave for AS Roma. And the Gunners would in turn take a new direction who will marshall the midfield.
But instead of a technical marvel in Aouar or an all-around dynamo in McKennie or once-in-a-generation talent like Camavinga, Arsenal have ended up with Xhaka, the sole player the club and fans wanted to leave this window.
It is a decision that sums up the Gunners’ fortunes in recent years, and one that will likely cause further problems to Arsenal as Xhaka’s contract ticks down into obscurity.
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