Central midfielder Granit Xhaka has been a huge factor in his club’s success in the Bundesliga and has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs. He has recently stated that, should Manchester City come calling, he would find it very difficult to say no.
Xhaka has opened the door to a move from present club Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga to Premier League giants Manchester City with his recent statements.”Logically, it is hard to say no when Manchester City wants you and you can play there,” he told a German publication, according to The Mirror.
“I will openly admit that, and that surely does not only apply to me.”
Liverpool and Arsenal interest
The 23-year-old has reportedly been on the wishlist of Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool for a while now. He has been linked with a switch to Anfield since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, and Arsenal were also thought to be interested in the Swiss defensive midfielder.
However, the Gunners have already brought in Mohamed Elneny in the holding midfield position, and it doesn’t look like Arsene Wenger will be buying a similar player in the near future. This leaves Manchester City as the club most likely to sign Xhaka, as they can offer Champions League football unlike Liverpool.
Yaya Toure’s replacement
Xhaka has made it clear that he would only consider a move if regular first team football was guaranteed, this would mean that Manchester City would have to do away with one of their mainstays in midfield. The likely candidate would probably be Yaya Toure, given his advancing age and frosty relationship with incoming manager Pep Guardiola.
In fact, Guardiola’s imminent arrival is being heralded as a signal that the Ivorian’s time at the club is limited. Even his agent has said that Yaya might consider a move away from the club he has been at for more than 5 years. Xhaka would fit into the holding midfield role perfectly, and at the age of 23, could well be Yaya Toure’s long term successor at the club.
