Arsenal 28-year-old could leave in January because of £17m teammate – Kevin Campbell

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Kevin Campbell has said on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel that Granit Xhaka could leave Arsenal in the January transfer window.

The former Arsenal striker believes that if Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga establish themselves in midfield, then Xhaka could leave the Gunners when the window opens again in January.

The 28-year-old Switzerland international midfielder was on the verge of leaving for AS Roma in the summer transfer window, as reported by The Guardian on August 16.

However, Jose Mourinho’s side could not meet Arsenal’s demands, so the midfielder stayed.

The Guardian also reported that the Gunners have actually extended the midfielder’s contract to 2024 with the option of a further year.

Belgium international midfielder Lokonga joined Arsenal from Anderlecht in the summer transfer window for a fee reported by The Sun to be worth £17 million.

Campbell said on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel when asked if Xhaka could leave in January: “Never say never, if I am honest with you.

“I would never say never because now there is a really, really good opportunity for Partey and Sambi to get a grip of this team from the middle of the pitch.

“Really important that they take control of the midfield. They do the business, then what does it do?

“It means that Granit Xhaka can’t get in, and I think maybe that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, to give Sambi that opportunity beside Thomas Partey.”

Could Granit Xhaka leave in January?

It is unlikely that Arsenal will offload Xhaka in the middle of the season.

Yes, the Gunners were reportedly willing to sell the Swiss player in the summer transfer window, but manager Mikel Arteta was likely to have signed a suitable replacement.

Lokonga is only 21, and while he could become a regular in the middle of the park alongside Partey in the coming weeks and months, Arsenal need to have depth in that department.

Xhaka made 29 starts in the Premier League and 10 starts in the Europa League for Arsenal last season, which shows just important he is to the current team.