Switzerland teammate Remo Freuler has dropped a hint about the future of Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka, telling Corriere dello Sport the Premier League ace may be heading to Italy.
Now, we can all be guilty of over-analysing at times, desperately trying to find meaning in even the most banal and non-committal of comments.
But while Freuler responded to questions about Xhaka’s future with his tongue firmly pressed in his cheek, it seems the former Arsenal captain is preparing for the winding roads of Rome.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Xhaka has an agreement in place that would allow him to leave the Premier League giants this summer, with Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi looking to strike a deal in the region of £18 million.
And Freuler, who also plies his trade in Serie A with Atalanta, could soon be reunited with a familiar face on the sun-kissed shores of southern Europe.
“First, he asked me how are the roads in Italy!” Freuler quipped when asked about Xhaka’s potential switch to the Italian capital.
Has Xhaka played his last game for Arsenal?
While Arsenal and Roma have yet to shake hands on a transfer fee, it seems the Gunners are already planning for life without a man who continues to divide supporters five years on from his £30 million arrival.
Ruben Neves, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ pristine Portuguese playmaker, continues to be linked with a potential £40 million move to the Emirates.
Whether Neves would represent an upgrade on Xhaka, however, is another matter entirely. While the former endured his most difficult spell in Old Gold last season, Xhaka emerged as one of the more consistent members of a typically unpredictable Arsenal team.
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