MIKEL ARTETA will not be rushed into a New Year’s deal for unsettled midfielder Granit Xhaka.
The Swiss star has told Arsenal he wants to join Hertha Berlin in a £21.5million January deal.
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And the Bundesliga side hope to have Xhaka signed up in time for him to fly to Florida next Thursday for their training camp.
But new Arsenal boss Arteta is still taking stock of the squad he inherited from Unai Emery and not planning to release anyone straight away.
He wants all hands on deck to sort the current mess and regards Xhaka’s experience and tactical awareness as crucial.
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And that could put him on a collision course with Xhaka, 27, who is determined to go after being stripped of the armband by Emery.
Xhaka still has 3½ years of a £90,000-a-week deal left but is convinced he needs to make a fresh start after telling Gunners fans to “F*** off!” when he was subbed against Crystal Palace in October.
His agent, Jose Noguera, says personal terms have been agreed with Hertha and their boss, Jurgen Klinsmann, feels it is crucial Xhaka participates in the full fortnight in Florida.
That would mean a deal being completed on New Year’s Day, when the Gunners host Manchester United — and that is highly unlikely.
Former Borussia Monchengladbach star Xhaka is allegedly angry at new boss Arteta for his apparent “two-faced” approach to his future.
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