Arsenal player was manager’s ‘first football love’ at new club – Wants to sign him this summer after previous failures

Roma manager Jose Mourinho remains determined to sign Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka after failed attempts in January and last summer.

That’s according to Calciomercato, who say the Swiss midfielder was the Special One’s ‘first football love’ at the Italian club and the desire to sign him has not gone away.

They explain that Xhaka is the signing Mourinho ‘had asked for’ since the beginning of his tenure in the Italian capital and was the subject of ‘lengthy negotiations’ with Arsenal last summer.

Roma chief Tiago Pinto was unable to convince the Gunners to back down from their demand of around €15m, despite having already reached an agreement in principle with the player and his agents.

So Xhaka remained in London but has always been ‘very close’ in Mourinho’s thinking, so much so that another move is planned for the summer.

The Giallorossi’s plan for the next transfer window will start with the search for a key player like Xhaka, and after a year of waiting, Mourinho wants a deal done with Arsenal.

CM say that Xhaka has not ‘completely rebuilt the relationship’ at the Emirates and has even courted more controversy in recent weeks after reportedly turning down the captain’s armband.

‘Patience will be needed’ for a few more months before Roma can get the midfielder out of Arsenal, but they do plan to ‘return to the attack’, with Mourinho and Xhaka determined to ensure they finally unite in Rome.