Granit Xhaka is reportedly on the cusp of extending his contract at Arsenal after failing to complete a highly-anticipated move to Roma.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Swiss international will soon put pen to paper on a new long-term contract until June 2025.
Xhaka looked to be on the verge of leaving Arsenal for Italy, with new Roma boss Jose Mourinho earmarking the midfielder as his prime transfer target.
The 28-year-old seemed poised to work under the Special One at the Stadio Olimpico.
Despite his renaissance under Mikel Arteta, Xhaka reportedly did his best to grease the wheels but to no avail.
Mourinho was desperate to make the ex-Borussia Monchengladbach star his marquee summer signing.
However, Roma never came close to matching Arsenal’s €20m valuation of their midfielder.
Even if the Gunners initially thought about sanctioning the deep-lying playmaker’s move, Xhaka’s impressive showings at the European Championships made them change their mind.
Xhaka was an absolute beast for Switzerland, bossing the midfield with skill and confidence.
He was instrumental to his side’s run to the quarter-finals, where they bowed out to Spain following a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out.
After falling out with the previous boss Unai Emery, Xhaka earned back his household status under Arteta, growing increasingly vital to Arsenal in 2020/21.
He was one of Arteta’s most used players last season, maintaining a high level of performance throughout the whole of 2020/21.
Xhaka returned to the scoresheet in his first game for Arsenal since his participation at Euro 2020, scoring a consolation goal in a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in a friendly last weekend.
It is fair to say that he has done everything in his power to earn a new deal in north London.
