Report: £100k-a-week Arsenal man has no desire to play for Arteta in PL season opener

Follow us on Google Discover

Granit Xhaka has no intention of playing for Arsenal in their Premier League season curtain-raising trip to Brentford, despite his move to Roma stalling, according to Il Romanista.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners open the campaign against Thomas Frank’s newly-promoted Bees on August 13. But Xhaka does not want to make his return to the field in an official game until August 22, when Roma begin the new Serie A term at home to Fiorentina.

Xhaka is due to re-join Arsenal for pre-season training this week after they allowed him an extended break after representing Switzerland at Euro 2020. He, and Jose Mourinho, had hoped the £100,000-per-week midfielder would have joined Roma by now, however.

Mourinho wants Xhaka to be a key building piece of his new Roma midfield, but CEO Tiago Pint still refuses to meet Arsenal’s valuation. Pinto is only prepared to pay €15m (£13m) plus add-ons, while the Gunners continually demand a minimum of €20m (£17m).

Talks between Roma and Arsenal over Xhaka have now hit a total stalemate as a result of their differing valuations. Neither side has made any progress towards a transfer in days, leaving the 28-year-old left waiting to pack his bags.

If Pinto continues to stay below Arsenal’s valuation, it will be difficult for Mourinho to make Xhaka a Roma player. The Swiss may then have to wear the jersey of the club who paid Borussia Monchengladbach £35m to sign him when they face Chelsea on August 22.

Arsenal already have their Xhaka replacement in case he joins Roma

Like Mourinho and Xhaka, Arsenal appear to be waiting for the midfielder to join Roma. Arteta already has a replacement in mind for the 98-cap international, with Denis Zakaria a prime target, per the Mirror.

The Gunners want to raid Gladbach for yet another engine room occupant in the 24-year-old. But they also have other targets in mind, just are waiting for pen to hit paper and see Xhaka leave.

However, there are no guarantees that Xhaka will leave Arsenal for Roma this summer, it seems. No matter how strong his desires to become a Giallorossi player are, Pinto and the Gunners hold the cards, now. And only once they agree a fee will Mourinho have his man.