Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is 'evaluating his options' and could leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer, according to the latest reports. The 32-year-old left the Gunners in 2023 to join the German club, having made 297 appearances during seven years at the Emirates Stadium.
Xhaka was then part of Xabi Alonso's side that won the Bundesliga title after going the entire league season unbeaten, lifted the DFB-Pokal and reached the Europa League final.
However, the 2024/25 campaign was not as successful and that prompted Alonso to leave for Real Madrid, while Florian Wirtz looks set to reunite with ex-Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong at Liverpool.
Now, Xhaka might be the latest to leave Leverkusen. According to Blick, the Switzerland international is assessing his situation as Leverkusen undergo a series of key departures this summer.
Talks are underway between the player's camp and interested clubs, with several teams, including those from Saudi Arabia, showing serious interest in a potential move.
Xhaka's former club Basel are not one of them in the running, however. He has three years left on his contract and it could take around £14million to sanction his exit in the transfer window.
Last month marked nine years since Xhaka moved to Arsenal in a £35m deal from Borussia Monchengladbach. He enjoyed a mixed first season at the Emirates, and ended the 2016/17 campaign with an FA Cup winners' medal.
Xhaka continued to be an important member of the Arsenal side, up until he was stripped of the captaincy after an incident, later described as one of the worst moments of his career, against Crystal Palace in October 2017.
The Swiss was substituted in the 60th minute, where a large section of Arsenal fans decided to cheer when his name was read out, while he was booed when he walked off the pitch.
He responded by making several sarcastic gestures and angrily saying "f*** off" twice to the Arsenal supporters who were jeering his name. Xhaka also ripped off his shirt before storming down the tunnel in frustration. Xhaka's actions were criticised after the game and Unai Emery described it as "wrong".
Arsenal confirmed three days later that Xhaka would be offered counselling and club also released a statement offering the midfielder's explanation of the incident. It looked almost certain that he would leave the Gunners.
However, Emery was sacked a month later and replaced by Arteta. The ex-Gunners midfielder managed to convince Xhaka to stay and reintroduced him to the side. He slowly won back the fans' support and played a key role in Arsenal winning the FA Cup at the end of the Covid-impacted 2019/20 season.
Speaking about the time Arteta saved his Arsenal career, Xhaka told the BBC in 2022: "He (Arteta) is the reason why I'm still at this football club. All of the club knows why I am still here, because three years ago I was gone.
"My suitcases were packed and finished, but I had a meeting with Mikel when he came. He wanted to hear my opinion about what had happened and I explained to him.
"I remember it exactly. I told him, 'It has nothing to do with you', because I didn’t know him and I never played with him. Obviously I knew his name, but not the person and I said, 'I'm gone, I can't wear the shirt any more'."