Hertha BSC are close to signing Stuttgart midfielder Santiago Ascacibar, throwing their move for Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka into doubt.

German outlet BZ Berlin report that Santiago Ascacibar is set to sign a deal with Hertha BSC in the coming days, despite rumours linking the club to Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka.

Ascacibar will sign a contract to 2024, joining for a €10m transfer fee. The club expect to bring in the midfielder before their January training camp in Florida.

BZ claim Xhaka is still on Hertha’s shopping list. They report that the Arsenal midfielder wants to join in a €25m deal. If both players move to Hertha, Xhaka would simply play a more offensive role in the team.

Mikel Arteta doesn’t want to let the 27-year-old go, though. That’s what BZ claim, something mirrored in the reports we’ve published in the last few days.

It also still seems unlikely Hertha would make two major midfield signings for practically the same position in January. Then again, perhaps they see Xhaka’s situation as a special case. The window opens on Wednesday.