Newcastle United are in talks with Granit Xhaka as they attempt to sign the Arsenal midfielder in the January transfer window, according to RSI journalist Giacomo Moccetti.
In an interview with Italian news outlet Pianeta Milan, the reporter has claimed that AC Milan are also in negotiations with the Switzerland international, 27, after he was stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal, resulting in his future at the Emirates being left in doubt.
“I can confirm that Newcastle and Milan are the two teams that are currently in talks with Xhaka. The first would logistically be the simplest solution because he would stay in England and in a league he knows,” said Moccetti, as translated by Sport Witness.
“With Milan, there’s a reciprocal serious interest and it’s true that he has gathered information in Milan of where he could live. He wouldn’t mind going back to the Bundesliga either, but there’s no option there at the moment. Inter have more appeal than Milan, because they are in the Champions League and in a better period, but there aren’t real talks with them.”
OPINION
Newcastle are not waiting around here. Xhaka’s not played for Arsenal lately due to him swearing at fans who booed him off the pitch against Crystal Palace and it seems as though the Gunners are happy to part with the Swiss midfielder in the winter with talks underway between him and the Magpies. Xhaka would be a good signing and an upgrade on some of the central midfielders that Newcastle already have. However, do the Magpies really need another midfielder who is more defensively-geared than attacking? Newcastle’s attackers are struggling to score goals this season with the defenders currently hitting the back of the net more often that the front-three of Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron. A central attacking midfielder or a couple of new wingers should be a priority for Bruce, although Xhaka would be a solid addition to his squad on loan in January if a temporary deal is on the cards.
