Arsenal are preparing to offer Granit Xhaka a new contract this summer, with AS Roma failing to make a suitable bid for him, according to reports.

Sheffield, England, 11th April 2021. Oliver Burke of Sheffield Utd tussles with Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit: Andrew Yates / Sportimage
Sheffield, England, 11th April 2021. Oliver Burke of Sheffield Utd tussles with Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture credit: Andrew Yates / Sportimage

The Athletic report that Arsenal are preparing to offer Granit Xhaka an extension, rather than selling him on in the current window. The Gunners did consider a sale, but they didn’t get the bids they wanted, and they now feel they’re likely better off keeping him.

The report suggests Xhaka was happy to stay at the start of the summer, even if he was aware that he was up for sale, and he was clearly willing to go to AS Roma.

But he’s now back at London Colney, he’s back in training, and he’s focusing on the start of the season. There aren’t expected to be any issues with his attitude, whatever the outcome in the market.

We know Roma were interested, there’s no doubt about that. They made at least one bid reported on by multiple outlets, Jose Mourinho was camped in Xhaka’s Instagram comments, but they just wouldn’t up their offer to match Arsenal’s valuation.

It’s very possible this contract offer is an attempt to get Roma to do just that. But it seems just as likely that Arsenal genuinely can’t afford to let Xhaka go for less than he’s worth, and they really do believe they’re better off keeping him and extending his deal.

Presumably, he’ll now start to be involved in matches in the meantime, with the Chelsea friendly coming up first on Sunday.