Bayern Munich make late bid for Arsenal’s Xhaka | OneFootball

Perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are keen to hijack Bayer Leverkusen’s move for outgoing Arsenal star Granit Xhaka.

As reported by 4-4-2.ch, the Bavarians have prepared a three-year contract offer for the former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder amid Thomas Tuchel’s bid to strengthen his engine room.

Xhaka’s seven-year stint at the Emirates Stadium will end this summer in all likelihood, even though the long-serving Swiss international has another year left to run on his contract in north London.

The 30-year-old appeared emotional after joining his teammates in a lap of honour following a 5-0 demolition of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final 2022/23 Premier League round last Sunday.

Mikel Arteta re-established the midfielder’s career at Arsenal after replacing Unai Emery, throwing him a lifeline in the Premier League when it looked like he could be on his way out.

But Xhaka seems destined to exit this summer, with Leverkusen readying a five-year contract to persuade the experienced midfielder to return to the Bundesliga.

His future seemingly lies in Germany’s top flight, but not necessarily at the BayArena, as Bayern have devised a plan to pip Die Werkself to the Swiss midfielder’s signature.

Unfazed by Leverkusen’s pursuit of Xhaka, Tuchel’s men have made a late push to lure him to the Allianz Stadium, hoping to kickstart a rebuilding process with his arrival.

The Gunners paid Gladbach £38.25 million to land the left-footed midfielder in 2016, but given his age and contractual situation, they’ll reportedly settle for around £22m.

Arsenal’s demands could blow Leverkusen out of the water, paving the way for Bayern to jump in and bring him to Bavaria in the coming weeks.

In addition to Xhaka, the Bavarians are eager to make West Ham United talisman Declan Rice the club’s most expensive signing, having grown confident of beating Arsenal to his signature.

With Xhaka on the verge of leaving England, the Gunners have set their sights on PSV Eindhoven’s rising start Xavi Simons.