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Hopes of Newcastle United signing Granit Xhaka fade with Arsenal news – Report

4 years ago
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Ten days ago The Times ran an exclusive saying Newcastle were trying to sign Granit Xhaka in January.

This was backed up when Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, who is close to Steve Bruce, said the NUFC Head Coach had made a central midfielder the priority in the next window and that Xhaka was first choice if Newcastle could get him on loan.

Then Thursday saw Giancomo Moccetti, a sports journalist with RSI Television in Switzerland, saying that he could ‘confirm’ that both Newcastle United and AC Milan are ‘currently negotiating’ for Granit Xhaka.

However, those hopes are now looking a little bit unrealistic as it is reported that Arsenal’s preference doesn’t fit in with the idea of a loan to Newcastle United.

The Gunners are losing a captain and first choice midfielder, with The Northern Echo reporting that their information is that Arsenal want/need a replacement for Granit Xhaka in January.

Not difficult to see why, when they have won only two of their last 10 Premier League matches, with the last two being a draw (Wolves) and defeat (Leicester) without the Swiss international.

The newspaper says that Arsenal are looking to use Granit Xhaka as a makeweight in a January deal to bring in a replacement.

Ironically, the midfielder said to be at the top of their list is Denis Zakaria,who Borussia Monchengladbach recruited for £10m in 2017 from Young Boys, a year after selling Xhaka for close to £40m to Arsenal.

Zakaria is only 22, five years younger than Xhaka, the pair played together in central midfield on Friday as Switzerland beat Georgia 1-0.

Arsenal spent £137m in the summer so can’t afford to allow Granit Xhaka to go out on loan unless there is no other option, especially with The Northern Echo reporting that Newcastle want the Gunners to subsidise the player’s wages.

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