Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes has admitted that the Bundesliga outfit are planning for a busy summer when asked about the prospect of Granit Xhaka leaving Arsenal and returning to Germany.
After over half a decade in the Premier League, could Xhaka be on his way back across the Channel?
The former Borussia Monchengladbach ace – according to Sky Sports – is tempted by the idea of joining long-term admirers Bayer Leverkusen this summer. He has reportedly told fellow players that a move away from Arsenal is on the cards too.
And Rolfes, while reluctant to give too much away, does admit that Leverkusen are planning some rather big moves in the market as they look to strengthen a side which could still end a topsy-turvy campaign with a Europa League title and Champions League qualification under former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso.
Will Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka return to Bundesliga?
“We are looking at the market to see what possibilities there are to improve our team. (But) I don’t want to comment on individual players,” Rolfes tells BILD when the topic of Xhaka was brought up.
“There will be an upheaval in our team. We’re trying to bring in new ideas. We want to improve the team. Our ambitions won’t be lower next season.
“We will do good things in the summer and have a good team!”
Leverkusen reportedly want to add some experience to a rather callow squad. 30-year-old Xhaka, a veteran of over 100 Switzerland caps, would certainly tick that box.
Arsenal appear to be in hot pursuit of a long-term replacement as well. West Ham captain Declan Rice – reportedly Mikel Arteta’s number one target – does most of his best work in the left-hand channel role that Xhaka has made his own during seven years at the Emirates Stadium.
“He’ll be at Arsenal next year!” Arsenal Invincible Ray Parlour says on David Seaman’s Seaman Says podcast. “He’s definitely going to be at Arsenal next year.”
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