Wolfsburg ace ‘expects move’; says Arsenal ‘would be exciting’

Ricardo Rodriguez: Defender linked with Prem move

Ricardo Rodriguez has admitted it would be “exciting” to link up with Switzerland team-mate Granit Xhaka at Arsenal after confirming he expects to leave Wolfsburg this summer.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old Swiss left-back, who has a 25million euros release clause in his contract.

Speaking to Berner Zeitung, Rodriguez – who has also been linked with Real Madrid – insists he is keeping his options open.

“I don’t know where I’ll be going, everything’s still open,” he said. “It’s also not impossible to continue at Wolfsburg, even though it might be unrealistic right now.”

He said he was relaxed about the speculation and would wait to hear about concrete developments from his agent.

He added: “There are many big clubs. The English clubs have a lot of money, Spain is a great league.”

Rodriguez’s Switzerland room-mate Xhaka has already sealed a move to Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach this summer and Rodriguez admits he would consider a switch to the Emirates if the chance arose.

“That’d be exciting, yes, especially as we’d have already solved the rooming question at Arsenal,” he commented.

Wolfsburg sporting executive Klaus Allofs recently said the Bundesliga side would not be able to influence Rodriguez’s future and, in light of the defender’s remarks, he has now suggested it may be better that he moves on.

Allofs told Kicker: “This is no news to us. That’s the agreement we struck with Ricardo. When we last talked his plan was clear. He wanted to leave us.

“A difficult season is behind us. We only need players with a clear mind. If the commitment to Wolfsburg’s not there, it’s better to part ways”