Arsenal expect to complete the signing of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach in the next few days. Xhaka is Arsene Wenger's top priority in the summer transfer window.
Having picked up their best finish in the English Premier League for 11 years, Wenger is keen to strengthen his team for next season, as the Arsenal manager looks to add that extra percentage needed to make his team the champions.
Having thrown away the chance to compete for the title with Leicester with some shoddy performances in the second half of the season, the pressure is on Arsenal and Wenger to mount a serious title challenge next season, and in order to do that, there is little doubt that the club need to strengthen in the summer transfer window.
One of the main priorities, with Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini all leaving, is the central midfield, and while Mohamed Elneny came in January and has shown signs of promises, there is a need to strengthen in that department.
Xhaka has been the number one priority transfer for a while now, with Arsenal already in talks with Monchengladbach, according to reports from Germany and England. The fee quoted has been somewhere between £30-35 million.
Now, the Daily Mirror report that a transfer could be completed soon, in a matter of a few days. Quoting Xhaka, the report says the deal will be done well ahead of Euro 2016, which begins on June 10.
"The season's over now and there might be discussions regarding the matter, we will make it together," the English daily quoted the Daily Mirror as saying. "The decision will definitely be before the European Championship.
"I'm the wrong person to be asking [about a transfer to Arsenal], you might need to check that with [sporting director] Max Eberl."
Xhaka will provide Arsenal with the solidity needed in the middle, with a bit of bite and ability to spread the game as well. Apart from a midfielder, Arsenal are also thought to be in the market for striker and a defender.
Getting that striker who can guarantee you 25-30 goals in a Premier League season will be vital, because where Arsenal lost the title this season was in the games against the lower mid-table teams, where they sat back and hit them on the counter, while nullifying the attacking threat posed by Wenger's side.
