Granit Xhaka has told fellow players that he is open to a Bundesliga return but a Premier League departure is more likely when his Arsenal contract expires in the summer of 2024.
Suddenly, all those links with Declan Rice make that little bit more sense.
With Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and the aforementioned Xhaka playing the best football of their careers under Mikel Arteta, reports indicating that Rice had emerged as Arsenal’s number one target may have raised the odd eyebrow.
After all, would Arsenal really break their transfer record to sign a £100 million-rated England international without being able to guarantee him a starting spot in their midfield? Possibly not.
But if Xhaka is seriously considering his future at the Emirates Stadium – and Sky Sports believe he is – then the addition of a player six years his junior would certainly make sense.
Rice, after all, does much of his best work in the left-sided central midfield role Xhaka has made his own during over half-a-decade in North London.
Will Declan Rice replace Granit Xhaka at Arsenal?
Xhaka joined Arsenal in a £35 million deal from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016. Sky say that the Switzerland international has informed ‘fellow players’ that he would be keen to retrace old steps in Germany, with long-time admirers Bayer Leverkusen still very much hot on the 30-year-old’s heels.
Xhaka’s Arsenal contract expires in just over 12 months’ time.
Sky believe that Xhaka is more likely to leave Arsenal on a free transfer in 2024, meaning he could spend his final season at the Gunners sharing starting duties with Rice; qualification for the Champions League meaning Arteta may need to rotate far more next term than he has this.
“(Rice) will be at Arsenal next year!” Arsenal Invincible Ray Parlour tells David Seaman’s Seaman Says podcast. “He’s definitely going to be at Arsenal next year.”
Rice was in outstanding form once again as West Ham calmed any lingering relegation fears with a 1-0 triumph over Manchester United on Sunday.
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