Gabby Agbonlahor has reacted to the transfer rumours that Granit Xhaka could leave Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and head back to Germany to join Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
The former striker admitted that when that transfer rumour first filtered through about Granit Xhaka, he was left ‘a bit shocked’, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast (17/05/23 at 8:55 am).
But, as the news digests, he can understand that call because the hard-hitting midfielder’s contract is running down and he will turn 31 soon.
Come the summer, a call needed to be made anyway because the Switzerland international would have had 12 months left to run on his Arsenal contract.
So, he either signs a new deal or decides to leave and, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Tuesday, Xhaka and Bayer Leverkusen are in ‘advanced talks’.
It’s been quite the road in Arsenal colours for Xhaka, with Agbonlahor sharing that he has had an ‘outstanding’ season.
“When I heard the news about Xhaka, I was a bit shocked, to be honest,” said Agbonlahor. “I thought, he has had an outstanding season.
“But then I see that he has got a year left. He is 31 in September. You can see why they are maybe looking to get a bit of money for him.”
XHAKA’S BEST SEASON AT ARSENAL
If this is to be Xhaka’s final season in the Premier League, then he has left the best till last.
This is, without a doubt, his best and most consistent season, which probably dates back to the previous campaign when he also produced solid performances.
A marmite-like figure and a player that caused a stir, no matter what, one thing is for sure, Xhaka’s no-nonsense style, both on and off the field, is going to be missed in north London.
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