Arsenal 'delay Granit Xhaka sale until replacement is signed'

The Switzerland captain is believed to have given the green light to a £13m move to Xabi Alonso's side, bringing an end to a turbulent seven years in North London.

Xhaka became an integral performer for Mikel Arteta despite his outburst towards the fans against Crystal Palace in 2019, having been jeered off the pitch while being substituted.

The 30-year-old was stripped of the captaincy by Unai Emery in the wake of that incident, but Arteta convinced him to stay, and he enjoyed one of his finest seasons in North London in 2022-23.

Xhaka's contract at the Emirates is due to expire next year, though, and while Arteta has frequently cooled talk of a possible exit, his departure is expected to be made official soon.

After Arsenal's 5-0 Premier League final-day win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 28, Xhaka - who scored twice on the day - told fans outside the Emirates that a decision on his future would be made the following week.

However, an official update is yet to arrive, and according to German outlet Kicker, the transfer will not go through until Arsenal have captured a successor.

The Gunners are believed to be pushing to sign both West Ham United's Declan Rice and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan, both of whom still have continental commitments to think about before the end of the season.

Rice and West Ham will battle for Europa Conference League glory against Fiorentina on Wednesday night, three days before Gundogan captains Man City in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Once both finals have been concluded, Arsenal are expected to make a formal offer to West Ham for Rice, while Gundogan is out of contract with Man City at the end of the month and is thought to be nearing an exit due to disagreements over the length of a possible renewal.

As a result, Xhaka's switch to Leverkusen could pick up speed next week if Arsenal make progress in their efforts to sign Rice and/or Gundogan, while Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is also on the Gunners' radar.

Xhaka prepares to leave Arsenal having scored 23 goals and provided 29 assists in 297 games for the North London club since joining in a £38.8m deal from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2016.

The 30-year-old has won two FA Cups and two Community Shields with Arteta's side and shone in an advanced role during the 2022-23 season, registering nine goals and seven assists in 47 games.

Xhaka's exploits helped Arsenal finish second in the Premier League behind Manchester City, thereby sealing a return to the Champions League for the first time since Xhaka's debut season in 2016-17.