Arsenal ‘targeting Granit Xhaka’s Switzerland team-mate Djibril Sow in shock Eintracht Frankfurt transfer’
ARSENAL are reportedly planning a shock transfer for Granit Xhaka’s international team-mate Djibril Sow from Eintracht Frankfurt.
While the Gunners are currently focussed on staying on top of the Premier League, manager Mikel Arteta has been looking ahead to the off-season.
According to reports, he wants to strengthen the squad’s central midfield and has increased efforts to try and sign Djibril Sow during the summer transfer window.
It’s thought that this would provide back up to regular starters Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
The Spanish manager signed Jorginho from Chelsea in January and got Mohamed Elneny to sign a new contract in February, but is clearly still hunting for new arrivals to help bolster the squad.
26-year-old Sow will begin the final year of this contract with German club Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer.
The player has made it clear to Frankfurt he will not be signing an extension with them this summer, and has already had talks with English, French and Italian clubs.
However, Arsenal may have an advantage over other clubs as Sow’s international team-mate, Xhaka, is on their side.
The pair played alongside each other for all four of Switzerland’s games during the 2022 World Cup, and Sow has said before how much he admires the 30-year old midfielder.
Sow told Sport1 last year: “Above all, Xhaka is a role model as a personality, as a leader.
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“He brings a presence to the pitch that I haven’t seen that often before.”
The two have both played for Bundesliga team Gladbach, and Sow has previously spoken about his desire to follow Xhaka into the Premier League.
Frankfurt will be keen to try and cash in this summer whilst Sow still holds some value, and have valued the midfielder at around €15million (£13m).
The Swiss has seven goals and 13 assists in his 151 appearances for the German team, and helped them win the Europa League last season.
The player also has 36 caps for Switzerland, making him a solid option for Arsenal if they want to increase the depth of their squad.