After the reports of AS Roma wanting to sign Granit Xhaka first emerged in Italy, the Serie A side’s interest in the Arsenal player was backed up in Switzerland.
On May 28th, Blick suggested the Giallorossi could complete the midfielder’s signing before the start of Euro 2020.
Calciomercato now state that in the ‘last few hours’, there has been an ‘important acceleration’ in negotiations to bring the 28-year-old to the Italian capital.
Roma chief Tiago Pinto wants to complete the deal before the start of the European championship, and make the player José Mourinho’s first signing at the club.
There has been progress, as the gap between supply and demand has ‘narrowed considerably’. Arsenal demanded €25m for the Switzerland international, while Roma’s first offer was around €15m. The latter have raised their offer to €20m including bonuses.
Calciomercato state Roma have ‘taken important steps’ to finalise the deal soon, after ‘obtaining the OK’ from Xhaka, who is ‘looking forward to working’ under the Portuguese tactician.
Reports in England are claiming the deal is close to being completed, but Roma are neither confirming these claims nor denying it.
Mourinho’s new side are ready to offer one of Amadou Diawara or Cengiz Ünder to lower the price tag, but Arsenal have not yet made a decision on a potential exchange operation.
