Arsenal consider selling Xhaka to Leverkusen, fans react; pursuit of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo intensifies.

• Bayer Leverkusen interested in signing Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, fans share mixed reactions.
• Arsenal’s pursuit of West Ham’s Declan Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo intensifies.
• Fans discuss potential swap deal with Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby and squad depth concerns.

Bayer Leverkusen are said to be chasing Granit Xhaka, and Arsenal could release the midfielder this summer if the right offer comes in. The 30-year-old has been a key player this season, but Mikel Arteta wants to sharpen his midfield considerably for the next campaign. Declan Rice tops the wish list, and two new names are expected to join.

The Daily Mirror writes that German Bayer Leverkusen are desperate to sign Xhaka for next season, and Arsenal could offload Xhaka for less than £20m given his age and contract situation.

The Swiss international’s contract expires in 2024.

Arsenal’s potential decision to sell Xhaka has sparked a range of reactions from the club’s fanbase. Some fans have taken to social media platforms such as Reddit to voice their opinions on the matter.

One fan commented: “He deserves to play Champions League football for Arsenal.” This sentiment was echoed by another fan who added, “We cannot let him leave before he plays CL football for Arsenal again. Even though this deal makes sense with our midfield targets, it feels wrong.”

Others expressed concern about losing depth in the squad, with another fan stating: “This would be a poor decision. We need depth AND quality; we’ll be playing UCL football while presumably chasing for the title. He will get plenty of time on the pitch even if we get both Rice and Caicedo.”

On the other hand, some fans seem to be more open to the idea of Xhaka’s departure, with one mentioning: “Xhaka isn’t at the top of the list of midfielders I’d sell to make room for new signings. However, I also wouldn’t lose too much sleep either, assuming we do sign a big-name replacement. Happy if he stays, wish him luck if he does go.”

Interestingly, the possibility of a swap deal involving Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby has caught the attention of a few fans. One fan commented: “That said, we could strike a deal for Diaby.”

Arsenal’s pursuit of West Ham captain Declan Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is also part of the conversation among fans. Another proposed a scenario where both Rice and Caicedo could join Arsenal: “I’m cool with selling Partey and Xhaka to fund this (I still like them as backup since they have 3-4 years left in the tank).”

Arsenal’s management have yet to confirm their intentions for Xhaka’s future. However, the midfielder’s performance this season has undoubtedly raised his value, and Arteta may be tempted to cash in on him at an opportune moment.

As the summer transfer window approaches, Arsenal fans will be keeping a close eye on the club’s movements in the market. Strengthening the squad while managing their budget will be a key challenge for the North London side, and the potential departure of Granit Xhaka may be just one piece of a larger puzzle.

It remains to be seen how Arsenal will navigate these challenges, but one thing is for sure: fans will be watching closely.