Arsenal ready to trigger 12-month extension clause in Granit Xhaka’s contract

Arsenal are set to trigger a one-year extension in Granit Xhaka’s contract, reports the Sun.

The Switzerland international midfielder has been a key player for Mikel Arteta’s side this term.

Xhaka has bagged three goals and five assists having started 26 of the Gunners’ 27 Premier League games.

His current contract expires in 2024, but there is an option already in place to extend it to 2025 with the agreement of both parties.

The 30-year-old was close to leaving Arsenal before Arteta’s arrival.

Xhaka fell out with the fans back in October 2019 when Unai Emery was in charge.

The Swiss was withdrawn during a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace and booed off.

He was stripped of the captaincy due to his unsavoury reaction to that incident and was expected to depart in 2020.

However, Arteta convinced him to stay and he has since won back the hearts of the supporters.

Xhaka has been a regular for the north London club since he joined them from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016.

He has played over 280 games and could help them win a first title since 2004.

Arsenal’s plans to keep Xhaka will not affect their plans to sign another midfielder in the summer.

They remain keen on West Ham United captain Declan Rice and will pull out all the stops to land the England international.

The Gunners have already seen Gabriel Martinelli and Mohamed Elneny sign new deals.

They are also close to getting Bukayo Saka to sign an extension, and Xhaka could be next.

Keeping their key players is crucial if Arsenal want to continue challenging regularly for major silverware.