Why Arsenal’s £80m transfer target could be their new Granit Xhaka

Back in 2014, Arsenal hero Cesc Fabregas left Barcelona behind and headed for Chelsea. As the Spaniard later revealed, he thought he was going to re-sign for the Gunners when exiting the Camp Nou.

Alas, Arsene Wenger never entered the bidding. It left Fabregas confused but it mattered not for him. He went on to have one of the best seasons of his career at Stamford Bridge, registering 18 assists during the 2024/15 Premier League season.

Fast forward 12 years and history is beginning to replicate itself, just in a bit of a different way. Another former Arsenal midfielder in Granit Xhaka is bound for Chelsea, having played for Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland after leaving the Emirates.

It’s a surprising move and one that will no doubt sadden those in N5, even if the Gunners haven’t really missed him.

Why Granit Xhaka is on the move again

Xhaka’s Arsenal career was an absolute rollercoaster. Under Wenger he was ill-disciplined, he was rash and he was a walking red card. At the time, the comment after a poor challenge in the Premier League went unpunished was always ‘if Xhaka did that it would be a red’.

Of course, there was that infamous moment under Unai Emery too. Substituted, the Swiss midfielder threw the captain’s armband the floor and cupped his ears to the fans after being jeered off the pitch.

Xhaka did ultimately revitalise his Arsenal career under Mikel Arteta but he took his leave in 2023, heading to Leverkusen where he won the Bundesliga unbeaten with Xabi Alonso.

Now, after a one year spell at Sunderland where he captained them to a Europa League finish, he could be reunited with Alonso at Chelsea in one of the shock deals of the window.

Reports suggest he is particularly keen on the switch, although Sunderland have no desire to lose him ahead of a historic campaign in Europe.

The Gunners have not altogether missed the Switzerland international since he left but you sense he has left a void behind. No one in the squad right now really resembles Xhaka.

Arsenal could sign their new Xhaka

Lo and behold, the Gunners could well sign their new version of the enigmatic midfielder this summer.

Three years on from his departure, a summer in which Arteta acquired Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, he could be set to go big in midfield again.

A year ago, Martin Zubimendi signed in a £55m deal but after a campaign in which he simply played far too much football, Arteta and Andrea Berta are looking for more depth.

Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi continues to be discussed behind the scenes after holding talks earlier this year while they could still hijack Tottenham’s move to sign Sandro Tonali. The word is that the Italian would reject Spurs if the Gunners came calling.

That said, Arsenal’s number one midfield target right now is Tonali’s Toon teammate, Bruno Guimaraes. Reports late last week suggested that exploratory talks have already been held with the player’s camp over a move for the Brazilian.

The latest on the move comes courtesy of TEAMtalk who report that Arsenal are ready to make their move for the midfielder after receiving encouragement from his agent to pursue a deal.

The club’s interest dates back to before he moved to St James’ Park and they are now finally ready to bring him to the Emirates. Berta and Co have been informed that Guimaraes is not willing to sign a new contract with Newcastle.

As a result, after extensive discussions with the player’s representatives in recent weeks, Arsenal are now ‘increasingly confident’ that a deal is possible, providing they can reach an agreement on a fee. At the moment, an £80m bid is being prepared.

Well, if they could get this deal done, it would be an instant ceiling raiser. After all, he has already been described by Gabriel Martinelli as “one of the best midfielders in the world.” Furthermore, he could be their Xhaka.

The fact of the matter is that Guimaraes is one of the most no-nonsense players in the top-flight, he’s a brute, a player you hate playing against but love playing alongside. He’s very much like Xhaka in that regard.

Since first signing for Arsenal in 2016, only one player has more yellow cards (James Tarkowski, 72) in the Premier League than Xhaka’s haul of 64. He has picked those up in 259 matches, one every four outings. Meanwhile, since Bruno moved to Newcastle, he has picked up 33 yellows, one every 4.6 games.

While the Brazilian can be rash and aggressive, his never-say-die attitude and warrior-like spirit is certainly akin to Xhaka but the comparison goes just beyond a physical presence.

Newcastle’s captain, Guimaraes is a natural-born leader like Xhaka but he’s also extremely technically secure. Last season, the Toon’s warrior midfielder also helped himself to nine goals and six assists in the Premier League. He has become a genuine box-crashing midfielder which certainly bears similarities to Xhaka, particularly in his final season in north London.

As his Arsenal career came to an end, the veteran netted nine times and assisted seven goals in all competitions during 2022/23.

At the age of 28, Guimaraes is in his prime. He’s a win now signing, a player who with his Xhaka-like capabilities, could drive Arsenal to another Premier League crown.