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Jose Mourinho wants to make Arsenal star Granit Xhaka his first Roma signing


Jose Mourinho was appointed by Roma earlier this month (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have named their price for Granit Xhaka with Jose Mourinho keen to make the Switzerland international the first signing of his Roma tenure.

The Serie A club moved quickly to appoint the 58-year-old earlier this month after taking the decision to part company with Paulo Fonseca.

Mourinho inherits a team that was crushed by Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals and finished seventh in the Italian league, a distant 16 points behind fourth placed Juventus.

Xhaka, meanwhile, has proven to be a divisive figure during his five-year spell in north London and, despite his obvious flaws, he has been a mainstay of the team under three successive managers.

Current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has regularly spoken in glowing terms of the 28-year-old but with the Gunners needing to undergo a summer overhaul of their own, Sky Italy claim they are prepared to let the former Borussia Monchengladbach star depart.

Arsenal want around €25m for Roma transfer target Granit Xhaka (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal are ready to value Xhaka at around €25m but Roma are hoping to negotiate a deal worth around €20m, including bonuses.

That would represent a significant loss on the £34m Arsenal paid for Xhaka prior to Euro 2016, but the player has just over two years left on his current contract and talks over a new deal are not likely to be forthcoming.

Speaking about his future recently, Xhaka told RP Online: ‘There are always rumours at the end of the season, that’s for sure.

‘But I still have a two-year contract in London and I am very happy with my family here.

‘First of all, I’m looking at a successful Euro 2020 with the national team.’

Arteta is also likely to dispense with the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, while Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard will return to Real Madrid following loan spells.

The Gunners have several midfield targets in mind with Norwich playmaker Emi Buendia and Brighton’s Yves Bissouma their priority targets.


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