Arsenal have identified Granit Xhaka as their primary midfield target for the summer transfer window, and it appears they may have found themselves just the player they need.
The Emirates hierarchy certainly seem impressed, they last week submitted a bid worth £33.8million to Borussia Monchengladbach as they look to secure Xhaka before the European Championships commence next month.
Xhaka is expected to play a key role in Switzerland’s tournament but how will he fare if he pulls on another red shirt later on in the summer?
Standard Sport spoke to Sven Goldmann of Der Taggesspiegel to find out if Xhaka is worth his sizeable pricetag.
What sort of player is Granit Xhaka?
He’s a typical leader in central midfield, very dynamic and powerful. He’s also a very physical presence. A good guy!
Would he be a good fit for Arsenal?
I think so, he’s perhaps most comparable with a young Kevin-Prince Boateng, the way he played at Portsmouth. He might not be that fast out of the blocks but he’s so physical and powerful. He still has the technique and footballing skills to back that up though. In short he’s a complete player.
The way Gladbach played last year was very similar to how Arsenal play. Their former manager Lucien Favre is a close friend to Arsene Wenger. They like the same kind of football so I think he could fit nicely.
On that basis it sounds like Arsenal fans can look forward to him adapting to the Premier League quite quickly then?
He wasn’t that quick in adapting to the German league though. Of course the quality difference between Switzerland and the Bundesliga is quite significant.
The Bundesliga is much faster, much more physical. He needed half a year, he was quite quick with his mouth in the first month in Germany but it took a while for his feet to follow.
After that he managed to play at a very high level consistently. He’s very self-aware, always looking for ways to improve himself.
He was made captain of Gladbach at just 22 years of age last September. How did that come about?
That was after the change of coach in September [when Favre resigned to be replaced by Andre Schubert]. The previous captain, defender Martin Stranzl, was often injured and Xhaka was the logical alternative.
He was the boss on the pitch, always. Even though he’s very young.
Arsenal are often criticised for lacking leadership, can Xhaka be the midfield general they need?
Absolutely, he’s a born leader. He’s very young but he’s played with the Swiss team at the World Cup and has plenty of experience.
He’s taken on a lot of pressure, in public he always talks to the press and if you ask him a question he’ll give you a proper answer.
Xhaka’s a leader on the pitch and a leader off the pitch.
Is he worth the £33.5million Arsenal have offered?
A good question, ask me again in a year. Those are the prices in modern football nowadays. To get a player like Xhaka, one of the big leaders in the Bundesliga, out of his contract, it probably is worth it.
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