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A few words from Granit Xhaka had Borussia Monchengladbach chief looking elsewhere

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday May 7, 2017. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Borussia Monchengladbach chief Max Eberl has revealed that after speaking to Granit Xhaka recently he opted against putting together an offer for the Arsenal man.

Xhaka, who is currently sidelined through injury, looked odds on to leave The Emirates in the summer. Roma boss Jose Mourinho was keen on acquiring the combative midfielder after his exploits at Euro 2020. Xhaka led the charge from Switzerland who were knocked out in the quarter-finals on penalties to Spain.

Xhaka though was instrumental for the Swiss and Mourinho tried to sign the 29-year-old soon after.

“Granit Xhaka is the main man in the entire Arsenal midfield, you can’t see it unless I lend you one of my eyes. Without him, Arsenal is lost. He is a leader. Remember, mistakes are made by humans,” Mourinho said.

A deal though never transpired and Xhaka in fact penned a new contract with Arsenal in August.

He did start the season in Mikel Arteta’s side before injuring his knee against Spurs in September.

Xhaka though could return before the end of the year after making good progress in his recovery from a knee ligament injury.

And this week he revealed he would love to return to his former club at the end of his time with Arsenal.

It’s not the first time Basel-born Xhaka has hinted that he would like to return to Germany. He played for four years for the Bundesliga side, making 140 appearances before moving to the Emirates in 2016.


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‘Granit told me his salary…’

Xhaka claimed he would “be open” to the idea, as long as Eberl was in agreement.

 

But while Eberl sounded keen, he told Bild the player’s wages might present a potential problem.

“Granit had a great time here,” Eberl told the German outlet, via Sport Witness.

“The fact that he has a very close relationship with the club and the region makes us very happy. We still have irregular contact.

“He has hinted at this more than once. Granit told me his salary, and I told him to play a few more years at Arsenal and then we can talk more.

“It’s a nice story and always nice when players express themselves like that. When he’s really 32 years old, I’ll talk to him again…”

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