Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka could reportedly be tempted to leave the club for Bayer Leverkusen this summer as his wife has been keen to return to Germany for some time.
This is according to a report from German outlet Kicker, who explain that family reasons seem to be the biggest factor for Xhaka ahead of this summer as his future comes into some doubt.
The Switzerland international has been having by far his best season in an Arsenal shirt this term, and it would be a real blow to lose him, unless significant money can go into signing a replacement.
Xhaka has had his struggled in his time at the Emirates Stadium, but he’s really turned his career around under Mikel Arteta, and he surely wouldn’t be easily replaced in that box-to-box midfield role that he’s played so well in this season.
Still, footballers are human beings too and Arsenal might do well to allow Xhaka a departure if remaining in London is going to cause him problems away from the pitch.
West Ham’s Declan Rice could be an ideal replacement and is one of Arsenal’s top targets in that position, according to Ben Jacobs in his exclusive CaughtOffside column yesterday.