Granit Xhaka is one of a number of big name players who have been invited to play for Kosovo after they were finally granted FIFA status in May this year.

Reports on Kosovo websites, which were picked up in Albania, claim that Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, and Adnan Januzaj we all contacted and the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) who expect them to accept.

“An official of the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK), to remain anonymous, told Kosovapress that Shaqiri, Xhaka, Tarshaj of Januzaj will accept the invitation of Kosovo,” said a report on Albania’s SOT.

Earlier in the week, the Albanian media covered comments from an exasperated Taulant Xhaka, Granit’s brother, who was pressed about his future allegiances. He said he had no plan to change countries. At present, at least.

Albania are likely to be the most affected by Kosovo’s new status, with Rudi Vata, a former captain of the Albanian national side, saying at the start of the year, “The negotiations that take place between two national football federations [Albania and Kosovo] will be crucial in seeing what happens with the Albanian national team – and I foresee politics and egoism getting involved in these negotiations.”

Xhaka himself spent some of his summer at an Arsenal’s supporter’s club in Kosovo but there is no indication that he will change from Switzerland, but it’s not a completely mad idea.

He has in the past said that he regretted not picking Albania and was born in Kosovo.

Players will likely be allowed to switch to Kosovo, even if they have already played competitive matches for another country, due to Kosovo being viewed as a ‘new nation.’