Arsenal fans have been rocked by Granit Xhaka’s shock admission that he is considering a future transfer away from the club.
The Switzerland international has cemented a place at the heart of Unai Emery’s midfield this season, despite the summer arrivals of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira.
Xhaka has been entrusted with the captain’s armband on several occasions and put in one of his most accomplished performances in an Arsenal shirt during the recent win over Manchester United which moved the Gunners to within one point of third placed Tottenham in the Premier League table.
Despite his status as one of Emery’s most trusted foot soldiers, Xhaka revealed on Friday that he has ambitions to play elsewhere before the end of his career.
‘I’m very ambitious, I want to take the next step, Arsenal does not have to be the last stop,’ he told Tagblatt.
According to Football.London, however, Arsenal have no intention of selling the 26-year-old, who signed a new long-term contract last summer, committing his future to the Gunners until 2023.
Arsenal would only entertain an offer well in advance of the £33.8million they paid Borussia Monchengladbach for his services in the summer of 2016.
Emery is likely to be afforded a transfer budget of around £50m to work with in the summer, but that could be boosted by player sales and Champions League qualification, should he achieve it.
The former PSG boss is said to have already decided he intends to send Denis Suarez back to Barcelona instead of making his loan move from Barcelona a permanent one at the cost of £18m and will reignite his interest in France Under-21 international Christopher Nkunku.
